May 20, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

This past Saturday, May 16, the long-awaited, super-hyped new Renzo Piano Modern Wing opened at the Chicago Art Institute. It goes without saying that my love for Chicago’s architecture is what lured me to set up shop in Chicago with my three founding partners back in 1988 following graduation from Cornell. All these years later, it is endlessly inspirational to see our skyline continue to evolve as some of the world’s best architects contribute to its splendor.

The reviews of the new wing have been largely complimentary and highlights such as the “Flying Carpet” rooftop. The ...Read More

May 15, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Recently, the news was full of reports on President Obama’s first 100 days in office. As could be expected, reviews were mixed. But, no matter what you think about the success of our new administration over the past three months, it occurred to me that so many of the strategies that Obama and his team have employed since taking the helm can be applied to developers in the hospitality industry as well.

In January, 2009, during the inauguration week of President Obama, pundits were marveling at how much Obama had on his plate at the start of the 44th Presidency. Prioritization and a special dedication to deliverables for the American people were deemed to be the cornerstones of his successful launch strategy. Not surprisingly, there are many tran...Read More

May 4, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

We learned this week that Chrysler has filed for bankruptcy.

The U.S. auto industry is, as we all know, struggling to balance its place in American history with the realities of its modern day balance sheets. When making the cuts that are so necessary to survive, who should go? Buick? Cadillac? Mustang? These are some of our country’s most iconic brands and it is painful to say goodbye to any of them. Surely, Detroit has felt the same way, which is why they have shied away from the decision for decades, bringing us here. General Motors stood up and made the call last week, however, when they announced that they would be ...Read More

April 27, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

It started out as Earth Day way back in 1970 when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the holiday. But as this last full week in April comes to a close, we have all been inundated by green messages on our favorite news networks, through social media and by President Obama himself as he gave a press conference on Wednesday surrounding eco-responsibility and the value of wind power.  All in all, it feels like a pretty green week to me. Frankly, I loved it.

I have long been a proponent of green design and innovation in my own industry and in others.  I was initially attracted to the topic because I, like so many, want to be a responsible citizen and leave the world a better plac...Read More

April 20, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the continuing needs of baby boomers and the trends in design that they continue to drive.

For the past couple of years, however, there has been a new boomer trend that has been consistently growing in Chicago and in cities around the United States – retired suburbanites have been downsizing – leaving their “empty nests” in the ‘burbs and returning to the city to enjoy all that an urban setting has to offer (general walk-abilty, plenty of free-time activities, finally getting to do all of those things that they couldn’t do when raising children was the focus).

I couldn’t help but chuckle out loud when I learned the term that is used to describe this cultural phenomenon: “Rupp...Read More