Chicago Condo: Mandarin Oriental Tower

Building Address:

230 North Stetson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601

• Units: 519
• Built: 2009
• Neighborhood: New East Side
• Pets Allowed: N/A

When it is completed, the Mandarin Oriental Tower will offer both Chicago homeowners and Chicago visitors a place to lay their heads. The new 74-story structure in Chicago's downtown Loop is a cross between upscale luxury condominiums and five-star hotel accommodations.

The concept behind the Mandarin Oriental is a little unconventional, but not hard to wrap your mind around. Basically, a number of the building's units (250 to be exact) are designed as condo/hotel rooms. These will be owned by private residents who live in the property when they are in town. But here's the kicker-whenever the owners are not occupying the condo, it will be used as a hotel room under Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group management.

Only half of the tower's units are designated as hotel-condos, the rest of the real estate in the Mandarin Oriental is left to traditional homeownership. The exclusively residential floors begin on the 41st story, offering plush one- to four-bedroom condos in the Residences and Tower Condominiums. Prices for the Residences (located on floors 41 through 54) start at $1.2 million and include full use of the world-class hotel services-even housekeeping. The Tower Condominiums (floors 55 through 74) offer a bit more flexibility in price. The one-bedroom units begin in the $600,000s, however, the upper end units are said to exceed $20 million. Of course, if you're willing to drop that kind of money on a home you get an absolutely outstanding view of the Chicago skyline through your wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows and the best in luxury amenities, from custom Italian cabinetry in your kitchen to 32,000 square feet of spa and fitness facilities on the 18th floor.

The perks of living in a hotel condominium are in the services. Wouldn't it be nice to have a 24-hour concierge, doorman, bellman, security guard and message service at your disposable? Not to mention all the daily services, such as housekeeping, in-room dining, childcare, bed turn-down, newspaper delivery, fresh linens, laundry and dry clean pick-up, personal shopping, and even a pet spa for Fido. The building is also equipped with everything you need to conduct business from home, plus it features travel agent services, a first-rate restaurant, meeting rooms, and on-site currency exchange.

Chicago isn't just adding another luxury condominium to its lineup of posh downtown residences. With the tower's opening, the city will also be the proud, new location of Mandarin Oriental Spa—a deluxe health spa with massage and beauty treatments, fitness center, lap pool, and private VIP suite. The award-winning spa is known for its ultra-lavish facilities and nature-inspired setting. Both residents and guests can pamper themselves and get in shape with full access to the relaxing spa services and modern workout room, which will occupy the building's 18th floor.

Beyond the flashy benefits of living with premium hotel services at your beck and call, the private quarters at the Mandarin Oriental also present superior amenities and upmarket finishes. The Tower Condominiums have stainless steel kitchen appliances, granite and marble countertops, insulating energy-efficient windows, brushed nickel fixtures and faucets, designer Italian cabinets, hardwood and ceramic tile flooring, huge walk-in closets, and natural stone bathtub. These top floor units vary greatly in size from 770 to 13,000 square feet. On the middle floors, the Residences offer Chicago homebuyers 844 to 6,200 square foot-homes with private lobby and street entrance.

The Hotel Condominiums-which are specially designed to function as both a comfortable living space and a hotel room-are furnished with plush sofas and bedding, mounted flat screen TV, custom built closets, Japanese soaking tub, separate shower with pebble flooring, and other top-quality finishes.

The Mandarin Oriental Tower is a collaboration of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Palladian Development and Solomon Cordwell Buenz architecture firm, among others. Together, the team has created a unique and unforgettable addition to the Chicago skyline that puts luxury at the forefront.

Courtesy of: Koenig & Strey GMAC