The Chicago Marriott O’Hare Airport hotel recently embarked on a $40 million renovation, and one of it’s goals was to create a more dramatic entrance that would set it apart from other area hotels. With the addition an elegant and contemporary porte cochere, that goal is achieved—especially at night, when the structure’s sweeping curves are lit.
In conceiving the lighting scheme for the hotel’s exterior, accentuating the porte cochere’s profile was one of the main concerns. A fixture was needed that could withstand Chicago winters; bend to emphasize the porte-cochere’s curves; and emit a smooth, not pixilated line of light that would look continuous even when viewed directly.
“Plexineon was the first product I thought of because it had all the attributes we were looking for,” says C. Lindsey Perkins, senior designer at Lighting Design Alliance. “It’s just such a versatile product.”
Perkins chose to use 516 linear feet of iLight Technologies’ Plexineon White 2X Series for a subtle effect. “The color temperature is just right when you want a warm, hospitable feel,” she says.
The installation went smoothly, and Perkins already plans to use the product on a hotel exterior in San Francisco.
