Sunday, June 14, 2020

Leland Hotel Was Originally Named The Illinois!

Original Newspaper Article
Beacon News
November 28, 1927
Still under the concept of Herbert P. Heiss, the building will first be known as "The Illinois". The original newspaper article from the Beacon News November 28, 1927 reads as follows:


NEW HOTEL TO BE KNOWN AS THE ILLINOIS


Contract for Steel for Nineteen Story Structure Has Been Awarded

The contract for steel to go into the new 19 story hotel to be erected by H.P. Heiss and his associates at Main street and Island avenue has been awarded, was announced last night by Mr. Heiss.  Preliminary excavation has been started and a steam shovel will be put to work Monday, he said. Concrete can be poured in about two weeks and this will be followed by steel construction work. The hotel will be known as the Illinois.



Building Described
Following is a description of the building by Graven & Mayger, Chicago architects, by whom it was designed:
     "The architectural style chosen by Graven & Mayger, architects, is to be a modern adaptation of Italian Romanesque which leads itself admirably thru its picturesqueness and dignified character to hotel design expression."

"The materials to be used are similar to those used in the original Roman monuments built during the Romanesque period, which were stone, brick and terra cotta."

"The lower stories are to be of plain cut stone contrasted with carved corbels, capitals and plaques of conventional type, which are so well known to this style."

"The second story stone work is to be pierced by massive Romanesque arched opening, which will express the lobby floor in a very dignified manner."

"This stone work of the lower floors has been so designed as to infiltrate gradually into the brick shaft above and removes accordingly the usual hard and unpleasant line between the contrasting materials which is found so often to be objected to in tall building design. The light brownish golden color of the brick shaft will be obtained by a brick selection consisting of a large range of colors and shades and the top stories will be laid in pattern."

 "The spandrels between windows of the shaft will be of polychromed terra cotta of subtle coloring and as in the case of the second floor, the topmost or nineteenth story will have massive Romanesque arches, and in this location they will express the roof garden and ball room but are treated in brick and polychromed terra cotta."

"The crowning members of the building, such as the belt course and main cornice are to be built with arches and corbels of brick and terra cotta and arranged to produce rich shadow effects. The spirit of the style will be completely carried out even to the pent house, which has as its chief feature and Indian red tile roof."

"The lot line elevation in which there are no windows is to be treated similarly to the other three facades of the building, but by the use of different shades of brick and using black brick for the desired shades and shadows."

"A series of powerful electric reflectors are to be concealed below the arches in a belt course on the nineteenth floor for the purpose of illuminating these at night."

"Going to the interior of the building the entrance lobby walls are to be of Travertine marble laid in ashler and will be enhanced by a colored ceiling richly patterned in plaster. The floor of this entrance is to be likewise colored and designed in the same scale as the ceiling and will produce a very inviting and harmonious effect."

"On the next floor above this entrance lobby, the main lobby is placed and is reached by two high speed elevators or by the monumental grand stairway having two spacious landings and an exceptionally low rise and run. This room also is to be designed in a Romanesque character but having a tendency toward Italian renaissance."

"The walls, in order to give warmth, are to be panelled to window height in natural finish American walnut and above this the finish of the walls is to be rough plaster and decorated in variegated blending colors."

"The ceiling is to be polychromed in harmonizing colors on beams and coffers"

"The main dining room adjacent to the lobby will be designed in Spanish where bright colors on the ceiling and draperies can be sharply contrasted with the plain and highly ornamental."





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