Ritz-Carlton Chicago
BAMO’s renovation of The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, reimagines one of the city’s most iconic hotels for a new era of hospitality. Infusing contemporary sophistication with Chicago’s architectural legacy, the redesign balances history with innovation.
From the arrival experience to the 12th-floor lobby, the interiors capture the city’s vertical rhythm, connecting interior and exterior through materiality, proportion, and light. The result is a landmark reborn: modern, timeless, and unmistakably Chicago.
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Location
Chicago, Illinois
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Architect
Gensler
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Photographer
Dave Burk Photography
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Lighting Consultant
Bouyea & Associates
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Art Consultant
Nine Dot Arts
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Press
INTERIORS, Modern Luxury Michigan Avenue, WALLPAPER*, Glocal Design Magazine
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Team Members
Michael Booth, Lexie Eglin
A Modern Renaissance in the Sky
The renovation reintroduced The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago as a modern icon rooted in craft and context. BAMO’s design brought clarity and warmth to a building defined by its architectural heritage, transforming the interiors into spaces of light, material richness, and ease.
Nowhere is this balance more evident than at Torali, the hotel’s signature restaurant and bar. Perched on the 12th floor, the venue channels Italian modernism through a Chicago lens, brass and marble details, light wood tones, and refined geometry, which recall the city’s design lineage while creating an effortlessly inviting atmosphere. The bar glows beneath a canopy of sculptural fixtures, and the adjoining café extends the experience with a greenhouse-like space framed by olive trees and mosaic floors.
The result is an evolution that honors the past while embodying contemporary sophistication.
The transformation isn’t about reinvention — it’s about clarity, confidence, and rediscovering what makes The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago extraordinary.” Michael Booth BAMO, Principal
Situated on Water Tower Place, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago stands at the intersection of heritage and modernity. BAMO’s design draws from the city’s architectural lineage — its skyscrapers, craftsmanship, and light. The renovation reimagined every guest-facing space, from the ground-floor arrival to the 12th-floor lobby, spa, and dining venues, establishing a cohesive narrative of elegance and renewal.
Natural materials — walnut, stone, and glass — create warmth and depth, while sculptural elements like The Flying Wave chandelier and restored crystal ballroom fixtures anchor the design in both artistry and tradition. Public spaces celebrate Chicago’s verticality and rhythm, balancing monumental gestures with quiet intimacy. The hotel’s evolution continues in the guestrooms and suites, where reconfigured layouts, modern detailing, and serene palettes translate urban sophistication into personal comfort.
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago emerges not as a reinvention, but as a return to form — a contemporary expression of enduring excellence.
