The Illinois chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has awarded first place to the Drawing Room at the Arts Club of Chicago. The venue won the award in the “Contract, Under 3,000 SF” category. For more than a century, the club has been committed to the advancement of contemporary art and arts education. When the institution sought to activate its space and give members and visitors a new place for gatherings and conversation, lead design architect Vinci Hamp Architects, in collaboration with SOM, created an intimate and flexible meeting room and bar space. The completed project underscores the Arts Club’s important role as a connector and meeting ground for Chicago’s arts community.
High ceilings create the sense of a vertical room, while rich, dark built-ins evoke a library-like feel. The club features black terrazzo floors and carpets, frosted glass tables flanked by bespoke upholstered bench seating, and classic Hannes Wettstein Hola chairs. These elements work in concert to create an interplay between light and dark, adding drama and luminosity to the Drawing Room space. Large mirrors above the bar reflect the garden, which features rotating installations by leading contemporary artists.