July 2017
Walsh Construction Renovates Historic High-Rise Into Cambria Hotel
Walsh Construction has completed the renovation of a historic high-rise office building into a new select service hotel in downtown Chicago. The 22-story, 199-room Cambria Chicago Loop - Theatre District, located at 32 W. Randolph Street, is situated above the historic Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre.
Walsh served as the design-builder and worked in partnership with Choice Hotels International, Inc., Murphy Development Group and Crescent Hotels & Resorts to deliver the new hotel which includes a fitness center, meeting spaces, game room, a bar, a kitchen, a laundry room and ballrooms.
“The transformation of this historic space will be a source of first-class hospitality in Chicago’s Theatre District,” said Walsh Vice President Jeff Pezza. “The project team worked diligently to preserve the unique tradition of the structure while converting it into a modern, highly-functional space.”
The hotel was opened nearly four months ahead of schedule and renovation work included abatement, demolition to the structure, new MEP and fire protection systems, modernization of elevators and installation of all new interior finishes while the Oriental Theater remained in service throughout construction.
“The Walsh ‘Speed To Market’ approach to the project along with the design-build delivery method allowed the team to complete the project ahead of schedule,” said Walsh Senior Project Manager Ken Johnston. “The entire project team, from our client to subcontractors to the Oriental Theater, was in constant communication with a common goal of opening the Hotel.”
Delivery of the new Cambria hotel comes almost exactly two years after Walsh Construction converted the historic 17-story Chicago Motor Club Building from high-rise office space into a 143-room boutique hotel.