Hard Rock Hotel
Gleaming green and gold and rising 440’ above North Michigan Avenue, the original Carbide and Carbon Building’s interior has been transformed into The Hard Rock Hotel. The historic exterior terra cotta facades have been repaired and restored in a four-year project by Central Building & Preservation. More than 7,500 pieces of terra cotta were replaced and secured with new supporting steel and anchors.
Central’s history repairing and servicing the building began in the 1960’s with the reconstruction of failing parapet walls. Limited exterior repairs to secure and extend the life of the façade were performed pending implementation of long-term plans for the building’s renewal.
During the course of the recent work, Central’s engineers interacted with the seller’s and eventual buyer’s restoration team of architects, structural engineer and general contractor to accomplish this internationally acclaimed restoration.
