The Bell office tower interiors by Ste Marie rework a 1966 Illinois Bell headquarters in Chicago into a hospitality-driven workplace organized as a continuous sequence of amenity spaces. Instead of isolating functions by floor, the project links lobby, dining, coworking, and wellness areas into a vertical campus that encourages movement throughout the day. The ground level introduces a 200-seat restaurant and bar directly off the lobby, shifting the arrival experience from corporate entry to a social environment.
The material continuity plays a central role, extending the building’s original marble, terrazzo, walnut, and brass into newly inserted spaces while layering in textiles, geometric art, and custom furniture. The program expands into lounges, sports courts, and wellness facilities, alongside coworking zones and informal gathering areas. The upper levels include the Clubhouse, terraces, and a more residential space.
Layered Amenity Offices
The Bell Tower by Ste Marie Transforms Workplace into Amenity Spaces
Trend Themes
1. Hospitality-driven Workplaces - Blends hotel-style dining, lounges, and concierge cues into office environments, opening pathways for subscription and ancillary revenue models tied to amenity access.
2. Vertical Campus Model - Reconfigures multi-floor office towers into linked amenity sequences that support fluid movement and platform-based occupancy offerings across stacked public and private zones.
3. Material Continuity Design - Extends original architectural finishes throughout new programmatic insertions, enabling branded environments that differentiate tenant experience and premium leasing tiers.
Industry Implications
1. Commercial Real Estate - Shifts in spatial programming create demand for asset repositioning services and flexible lease structures that monetize amenities beyond square footage.
2. Hospitality and Food Service - Integration of high-capacity restaurants and bars into office lobbies signals potential for hybrid F&B concepts serving both public and tenant communities.
3. Wellness and Fitness Services - Incorporation of sports courts, wellness facilities, and lounges within workplace footprints supports membership-driven service models and health-focused corporate partnerships.