Full Permits Issued for RIU Plaza Hotel at 150 E Ontario Street in Streeterville

Full permits have been issued for the RIU Plaza Hotel Chicago at 150 E Ontario Street in Streeterville. Located just east of the intersection with N Michigan Avenue, developer The Prime Group broke ground on the new tower earlier this year, replacing an empty lot. The property will be run by Spain-based RIU Hotels and is being designed by local architecture firm Lucien LaGrange Studio, who recently merged with Lamar Johnson Collaborative.

150 E Ontario Street. Rendering by Lucien LaGrange Studio

RIU itself operates a bit differently than US-based hoteliers, offering full vacation packages across the world aimed at mostly European travelers, with Chicago joining Toronto in their most recent wave of expansions in North America. It became the second hotel announced for the city and the first with a stand alone structure since the pandemic began, with its construction betting on the continuous demand for Chicago as it was recently named the best big city in the US for the sixth year in a row.

Site Plan for 150 E Ontario Street. Drawing by Lucien LaGrange Studio

Rising 28 stories and 345 feet in height, the new Neoclassical-style tower will fully occupy its lot abutting the two neighboring structures. Within its walls it will feature 388 guest rooms, a ground-level coffee shop and lobby, a second-floor dining area for breakfast, but no additional amenity spaces. Given the expectation that many of its visitors will be from abroad, the hotel will not contain any vehicle parking at all, with only a small pick-up/drop-off area available at the entrance off of Ontario Street.

View of 150 E Ontario Street. Rendering by Lucien LaGrange Studio

Given the parking situation and being in a transit rich area, guest will have near-direct bus access to CTA Routes 2, 3, 10, 26, 125, 143, 146, 147, 148, 151, and 157, while the CTA Red Line at Grand station is an eight-minute walk away. The permits will allow for the full build-out and tower crane use for the structure, W.E. O’Neil Construction is serving as the general contractor with its 23 to 24 month timeline wrapping up in 2024.

Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail

Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews