Exterior of Carbide & Carbon Building

History of Pendry Chicago

Pendry Chicago: A Historic Boutique Hotel

If these walls could talk. Originally designed as a symbol of lavish celebration, Pendry Chicago is at home in the stunning and storied 1929 Carbide & Carbon building, a landmark structure located on Chicago’s famed Michigan Avenue.

Honoring an Icon

Originally designed by the Burnham Brothers (sons of renowned American architect Daniel Burnham) as the regional office of Union Carbide and Carbon Co., the Art Deco style building was a statement attesting to their resounding success as the developers of the first dry cell battery.

Revered for its unique shape, reminiscent of a vintage green champagne bottle reportedly symbolizing a response to the Prohibition era, the structure’s tower façade, made of dark green terracotta with gold leaf accents, was complemented by frosted glass fixtures, gold embellishments and a lobby made of Belgian marble, polished black granite and bronze trim perched on a prime stretch of Michigan Avenue.

Designated a Chicago Landmark in 1996, the Carbide & Carbon building became home to Pendry Chicago in 2021, ushering in an era of modern allure to the building’s storied history with all-new interiors and luxury amenities that commingle carefully with an appreciation for its Art Deco style and heritage.

The rest, as they say, will be (more) history.

Aerial View of Chicago Loop Buildings
Carbide & Carbon Building 1929 Historical Lobby Letter Box
View of skyscrapers along Michigan Avenue where pedestrians are walking and cars are driving in the foreground, dark exposure
Pendry Chicago Views
Carbide and Carbon Building
Pendry Chicago Historical Lobby Elevators
Carbide & Carbon Building Exterior View
Aerial view of Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1920s
Pendry Chicago Historical Lobby Bridge
Entrance to the Carbide Suite at Pendry Chicago
Aerial View of Downtown Chicago Buildings
Top of the Carbide & Carbon Building in Chicago
At a Glance

Built: 1929

Architects: Burnham Brothers

Architectural Style: Art Deco

Height: 40 stories, 34 floors of guestrooms

Original Tenant: Union Carbide and Carbon Co.

Chicago Landmark: Designated in 1996

Address: 230 N. Michigan Avenue

Today: Home to Pendry Chicago since 2021

The exterior of Pendry Chicago surrounded by downtown Chicago skyscrapers on North Michigan Avenue

Carbide & Carbon Building FAQs

The Carbide & Carbon Building is a historic Art Deco skyscraper on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Completed in 1929, the 37-story Chicago landmark is known for its distinctive green terra cotta exterior and gold-leaf accents and is now home to Pendry Chicago.

The Carbide & Carbon Building in Chicago was completed in 1929 as the regional headquarters of the Union Carbide and Carbon Co. The historic Michigan Avenue building is now home to Pendry Chicago.

The Carbide & Carbon Building was designed by Chicago architecture firm Burnham Brothers, led by Daniel and Hubert Burnham, sons of renowned architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham. The building is one of Chicago’s distinctive examples of Art Deco architecture.

Yes. The Carbide & Carbon Building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1996 in recognition of its architectural significance and distinctive Art Deco design. The landmark stands on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago and is now home to Pendry Chicago.

The Carbide & Carbon Building is home to Pendry Chicago, a luxury hotel on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Pendry Chicago features guestrooms and suites, dining and nightlife venues, event spaces and guest amenities within the historic Art Deco building.

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