The renovation and reinvention of the old Cook County Hospital is a triumph of historic preservation, one that should resonate far beyond the walls of the beloved Beaux-Arts landmark on Chicago’s Near West Side.
Not only does it give new life to an ornate, more-is-more work of architecture that Cook County leaders, unconscionably, had in their demolition cross-hairs 17 years ago.
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The renovation was worth every cent of the $27 million in historic preservation tax breaks the developers will receive. Credit for the project goes to the Civic Health Development Group, which is led by Murphy Development Group and includes Walsh Investors, MB Real Estate, the Plenary Group and Granite Cos.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of Chicago, led by designer partner Brian Lee and managing partner Adam Semel, headed the architectural team. The Chicago firm KOO designed the hotel’s interiors.