2025 Lerch Bates
People's Choice Awards Finalists

The project began with a deep respect for the industrial heritage of Chicago’s Fulton Market and a vision to preserve the soul of a 150,000-square-foot grain-silo complex while adapting it for a modern hotel program. The design team viewed the site as an archaeological relic layered with history and meaning, and their goal was to metaphorically excavate it, revealing its inner workings to the public. By preserving the iconic concrete silos and exposing their once-hidden mechanical systems—conveyor belts, funnels, and inspection paths—they aimed to create a space that honors the past while engaging the present. The design integrates modular hotel units within the preserved silo drums, enhancing efficiency and sustainability, while a sunken public plaza transforms industrial remnants into a place for gathering, reflection, and education.