InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA historic luxury hotel on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, occupying the former Medinah Athletic Club complex.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is a landmark luxury hotel on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, at the northern end of the Magnificent Mile. The property is notable for combining a restored 1929 historic tower with a later 1961 addition, and for retaining significant architectural and decorative elements from its earlier life as the Medinah Athletic Club. The South Tower was commissioned by the Chicago Shriners Organization during Chicago’s late-1920s construction boom. Designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager, the 42-story, 471-foot building was completed in 1929 with 440 guest rooms and extensive athletic, social, and entertainment facilities. Its Indiana limestone exterior incorporates Assyrian-inspired relief panels and carved figures, while a gold-painted dome crowns the tower. The original club included a high-level indoor swimming pool, a miniature golf course, shooting and archery facilities, bowling and boxing spaces, a running track, ballrooms, meeting rooms, and other amenities intended for a large membership of Shriners and their guests. The building’s interiors were designed as a richly eclectic environment. Historic features include the former Grand Ballroom, a two-story elliptical space with Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek decorative references; King Arthur Court, originally a men’s smoking lounge; and the former athletic-club swimming pool, now popularly associated with Olympic swimmer and actor Johnny Weissmuller. The pool’s Spanish majolica tilework and Neptune fountain remain important visual elements of the property. The building is also known for its elaborate murals, ornamental stonework, decorative ceilings, and large crystal chandelier. The Medinah Athletic Club entered bankruptcy in 1934. In 1944, developer John J. Mack acquired the building and converted it into a 650-room hotel known as the Hotel Continental. Mack sold the property to Sheraton Hotels in 1947, after which it operated under Sheraton names. Sheraton added the 26-story North Tower in 1961, creating a larger hotel complex and expanding the property’s accommodation capacity. The hotel also hosted the Polynesian-themed Kon-Tiki Ports restaurant concept during this period. MAT Associates purchased the property from Sheraton in 1978 and initially engaged Radisson Hotels to manage it. That arrangement ended in 1983, and the property returned to the Hotel Continental name. The hotel closed in November 1986 for a major renovation. In 1987, plans were announced for Inter-Continental Hotels to manage the complex as two related hotels: the North Tower was to reopen as the 547-room Forum Hotel, while the restored South Tower was to become the 346-room Inter-Continental Chicago. The restoration drew on historical photographs and surviving documentation, including a donated anniversary issue of the Medinah Athletic Club’s magazine. Restoration work recreated or informed the reconstruction of carpets, furniture, ceiling stenciling, room colors, draperies, and the Grand Ballroom balcony. Murals were restored and missing paintings were replicated. In the Hall of Lions, conservators removed later layers of paint from marble surfaces by hand after determining that abrasive blasting could damage the underlying details. The recovered lion carvings subsequently became recurring symbols within the hotel. The Forum Hotel reopened in 1989, and the historic Inter-Continental Chicago opened to the public in March 1990. The two operations were consolidated in April 1994 through a reported $10 million renovation, producing a 792-room hotel with a new entrance, a four-story lobby, a grand staircase, banquet facilities, and an illuminated rotunda. In 2023, the property completed a renovation of its Grand Tower, updating all 477 guest rooms. KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group developed the design, which modernized the accommodations while drawing on the former athletic club’s Moorish, Turkish, Greek, Persian, and Celtic influences. Custom furniture and artwork reference details from the historic exterior and interiors. In 2025, the hotel added Casa Chi, a Nikkei-style lounge developed with chef Richard Sandoval that combines Japanese and Peruvian culinary influences. The hotel also presents recurring programming such as live jazz and sound-bath events. It is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s official historic-hotel program.
History
The property began as the Medinah Athletic Club, a large private club commissioned by the Chicago Shriners Organization during the building boom preceding the 1929 stock-market crash. Walter W. Ahlschlager designed the 42-story South Tower, which was completed in 1929 at the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Illinois Street. The project included 440 guest rooms and an unusually extensive collection of athletic and social facilities. Its exterior used Indiana limestone, Assyrian-style reliefs, carved figures, and a gold-painted dome. The interior included ballrooms, meeting rooms, a high-level indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, bowling and boxing areas, a miniature golf course, and other club amenities. The club went bankrupt in 1934. After a protracted process, developer John J. Mack acquired the building in 1944 and converted it into a 650-room hotel called the Hotel Continental. Sheraton Hotels acquired the property in 1947 and operated it under Sheraton branding. A 26-story North Tower was added in 1961, expanding the complex and changing its physical and operational scale. During the Sheraton era, the hotel also included a Kon-Tiki Ports Polynesian-themed restaurant. MAT Associates bought the hotel in 1978 and appointed Radisson Hotels as manager. The management agreement ended in 1983, after which the property again used the Hotel Continental name. The hotel closed in November 1986 for renovation. In 1987, an operating plan divided the complex between the Forum Hotel in the North Tower and the Inter-Continental Chicago in the historic South Tower. The Forum Hotel reopened in 1989, followed by the Inter-Continental Chicago in March 1990. The restoration program used historic photographs and club records to recover lost or altered decorative details. The Grand Ballroom balcony was reconstructed, murals were restored, and missing works were replicated. Conservators also uncovered lion carvings in the Hall of Lions after carefully removing layers of paint from the marble. In April 1994, the two hotel operations were combined through a reported $10 million renovation. The resulting 792-room property received a unified entrance, a four-story lobby, new circulation areas, banquet facilities, and an illuminated rotunda. The hotel later operated as part of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and became known as InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile. Its identity remained closely linked to the surviving Medinah Athletic Club architecture and its location on Michigan Avenue. The property is recognized as a member of Historic Hotels of America. In 2023, its Grand Tower was renovated, with all 477 guest rooms updated by KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group. The work used historical references from the building’s Moorish, Turkish, Greek, Persian, and Celtic decorative vocabulary. In 2025, Casa Chi opened at the hotel as a Nikkei-style lounge developed with chef Richard Sandoval. The property also offers recurring live jazz and sound-bath programming.
- 2025
Casa Chi opens
[1]The hotel added Casa Chi, a Nikkei-style lounge developed with chef Richard Sandoval.
- 2023
Grand Tower renovation completed
[1]All 477 Grand Tower guest rooms were renovated with a design referencing the property’s athletic-club heritage.
- 1994
Two hotel operations consolidated
[1]The Forum Hotel was merged into Inter-Continental Chicago through a major renovation, creating a 792-room property.
- 1990
Inter-Continental Chicago opens
[1]The restored historic tower opened to the public in March.
- 1989
Forum Hotel reopens
[1]The North Tower reopened ahead of the historic South Tower.
- 1987
Inter-Continental management and two-hotel plan announced
[1]Plans called for the North Tower to reopen as the Forum Hotel and the restored South Tower to operate as Inter-Continental Chicago.
- 1978
MAT Associates acquires the hotel
[1]MAT Associates purchased the property from Sheraton and brought in Radisson Hotels to manage it.
- 1961
North Tower added
[1]Sheraton completed a 26-story North Tower adjoining the historic South Tower.
- 1947
Sheraton acquisition
[1]Sheraton Hotels acquired the hotel and later operated it under Sheraton-related names.
- 1944
Conversion to Hotel Continental
[1]John J. Mack acquired the building and converted it into a 650-room hotel.
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Products and positioning
Upper-upscale to luxury urban heritage hotel combining a central Magnificent Mile location, full-service hospitality, and preserved Medinah Athletic Club architecture.
Hotel accommodation
Guest rooms and suites
The hotel provides full-service accommodation across its historic South Tower and later North or Grand Tower. The rooms combine contemporary hospitality features with references to the building’s former Medinah Athletic Club identity. The 2023 renovation updated all 477 guest rooms in the Grand Tower and introduced custom furnishings and artwork inspired by historic architectural details.
Fitness and wellness · 1929
Historic Medinah Athletic Club pool
The former athletic club swimming pool is one of the property’s best-known historic features. It retains blue Spanish majolica tiles, a terra-cotta Neptune fountain, and spectator seating. The pool is commonly associated with Johnny Weissmuller, who trained there during the building’s athletic-club era.
Meetings and events · 1929
Grand Ballroom and event spaces
The property offers historic ballrooms, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, and a Grand Ballroom associated with the original Medinah Athletic Club. The ballroom’s two-story elliptical form, decorative program, mezzanine, and large crystal chandelier make it a signature venue for events.
Restaurant and lounge · 2025
Casa Chi
Casa Chi is a food-and-beverage venue opened at the hotel in 2025. Developed with chef Richard Sandoval, it is described as a Nikkei-style lounge blending Japanese and Peruvian culinary influences.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch Casa ChiProduct launchBackground
The hotel expanded its food-and-beverage offer with a new venue at the corner of Illinois Street and Michigan Avenue.
Action taken
Casa Chi opened as a Nikkei-style lounge developed with chef Richard Sandoval.
Aftermath
The venue added a Japanese-Peruvian dining concept to the hotel’s guest and local programming.
2023
Modernize the Grand Tower guest roomsGeneration changeBackground
The hotel sought to refresh its accommodations while maintaining a connection to the historic Medinah Athletic Club architecture.
Action taken
KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group renovated all 477 Grand Tower guest rooms using custom furnishings, artwork, and references to Moorish, Turkish, Greek, Persian, and Celtic design influences.
Aftermath
The renovated rooms strengthened the property’s positioning as a contemporary luxury hotel with a heritage-led design identity.
1994
Merge the Forum Hotel into Inter-Continental ChicagoStrategyBackground
The separate operating model for the two towers was discontinued after several years.
Action taken
The Forum Hotel was incorporated into Inter-Continental Chicago through a reported $10 million renovation, including a unified entrance and expanded lobby facilities.
Aftermath
The combined property reached 792 rooms and operated as one hotel.
Renovation cost. $10 million (1994)
1987
Adopt a two-tower operating strategyStrategyBackground
After the property’s closure for renovation, its owner and Inter-Continental Hotels planned to operate the North and South Towers as separate but related hotels.
Action taken
The North Tower was designated as the budget-oriented Forum Hotel, while the restored historic South Tower was designated as Inter-Continental Chicago.
Aftermath
The split arrangement proved temporary. The two operations were consolidated in 1994.
Recent events
- 2025
Casa Chi opens at InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile[1]
Product launch
The property introduced Casa Chi, a Nikkei-style food-and-beverage venue developed with chef Richard Sandoval and combining Japanese and Peruvian influences.
- 2023
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile completes Grand Tower guest-room renovation[1]
Other
The hotel completed a renovation of all 477 guest rooms in its Grand Tower, incorporating contemporary furnishings and design references to the former Medinah Athletic Club.
- 2023
Grand Tower guest-room renovation is completed[1]
Other · Product generation
All 477 guest rooms in the Grand Tower were updated with contemporary interiors referencing the property's athletic-club heritage.
- 1994
Forum Hotel and Inter-Continental Chicago are consolidated[1]
Other
The two related hotel operations were merged after a $10 million renovation, creating a 792-room property with combined public areas and facilities.
- 1990
Historic Inter-Continental Chicago opens to the public[1]
Other
The restored South Tower opened in March 1990 after the Forum Hotel had begun operating in the North Tower the previous year.
- 1987
Inter-Continental Hotels announces two-property redevelopment plan[1]
Other
Plans called for the North Tower to reopen as the Forum Hotel and the restored historic South Tower to operate as the Inter-Continental Chicago.
Sources1 sources
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