Historic Carbide & Carbon Building repositioning as St. Jane Hotel

Chicago’s Hard Rock Hotel is being repositioned by its owners as the St. Jane Chicago Hotel. The name is a nod to Jane Addams, the Chicago social worker and civil rights leader who operated the Hull House settlement house. According to Becker Ventures, the building’s owner, Aparium Hotel Group will oversee the transition and operation of the new St. Jane Chicago.

The renovation of the Carbide & Carbon Building will see a total of 363 hotel rooms—a decrease from the 381 rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel. Chicago’s Booth Hansen has been tapped as the lead architect for the renovation of the Art Deco high-rise while interiors will see an overhaul by Simeone Deary Design Group. Similar to other new hotel offerings in historic downtown buildings, the repositioned Carbide & Carbon Building will also feature an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and lounge.

St. Jane Chicago

While Jane Addams has no connection to the Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building, the move is likely to compete with newer downtown hotels located in restored buildings that have some sort of tie in with Chicago history to offer guests a more “authentic” Chicago experience. Coincidentally, the new St. Jane will sit just a couple doors down from the upcoming Hotel Julian, another former Michigan Avenue office tower which is being named for St. Julian Hospitaller, the patron saint of hospitality and innkeepers.

The Hard Rock Hotel will close December 1 for renovations and the new St. Jane Chicago Hotel is expected to open next spring.