LG Electronics USA recently conducted private tours of the historic Chicago Motor Club building, an Art-Deco landmark built nearly 100 years ago and now reborn as a LEED-certified Hampton by Hilton hotel. The tour included the property’s rooftop and guestrooms for a behind-the-scenes look at the technology used in the property’s renovation.

LG’s “Living Case Study: Innovative HVAC Application in a Landmark Hotel” highlighted the Multi V™ IV Heat Recovery system, ductless Art Cool™ Mirror in-room units, and the AC Smart IV thermostat, all of which were installed during the renovation. LG also demonstrated its Art Cool™ Gallery air conditioner and hotel TVs featuring the Pro:Centric® interactive platform.

Kevin McNamara, vice president and general manager for LG Electronics USA’s air conditioning business, called the project “a unique opportunity to transform a landmark-status building into a modern, functioning hotel.”

First and foremost, it was imperative that the renovated building maintain its original appearance and its status in National Register of Historic Places, he explained. 

A major challenge in the renovation was to install a heating and air conditioning system that would allow the Chicago Motor Club building to maintain its architectural integrity, while also serving a practical purpose in the building’s new role as a hotel — providing the ultimate in guest comfort. It was also essential that any HVAC equipment installed in the Chicago Motor Club building address installation challenges due to limited interior and rooftop space and offer conditioning options that efficiently respond to Chicago’s exceptionally cold winters.

“That’s where LG technology shines. Our goal was to honor the building’s historic architecture and at the same time usher it into the modern day. With innovative air conditioning and in-room TV solutions, LG did just that,” said McNamara

Today, the Chicago Motor Club building, located steps off of Chicago’s famous Magnificent Mile, is the Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown, a 17-story hotel that houses 143 guest rooms. 

Working with Bill Hoch, regional sales engineer, LG Electronics USA Commercial Air Conditioning Systems, Midwest Applied Solutions, oversaw the installation of the LG Multi V IV system currently in-use at the hotel: an updated, efficient heating and cooling system that reflects the enhanced values of the historic downtown hotel without disturbing or disrupting the building’s iconic – and protected – architecture.

The company says the LG Multi V IV outdoor units on the roof of the Chicago Motor Club building provided outstanding installation flexibility and were easily installed for minimal visibility in addition to providing optimal guest comfort.

“These particular units feature LG Vapor Injection Technology, which allows for maximum heating performance in cold climates, like winters in Chicago,” said Hoch, who led the Living Case Study tours.

In each guestroom the LG ductless Art Cool™ Mirror unit complements the stylized Art Deco décor of the hotel. These indoor units maintain very low sound levels (as low as 23 dBA), making them among the most desirable indoor units in the industry, said Hoch.

To manage and monitor all of these units, LG’s AC Smart IV central controller communicates with all of the LG indoor units, offering building management the added convenience of managing and adjusting all devices with one centralized system.