Lawrence Hotel

The twelve-story Lawrence Hotel at 1020 W. Lawrence Avenue was built in 1928. It was designed by architects Ralph D. Husazgh and Boyd Hill, whose other projects included the nearby Wilton Hotel and Aragon Ballroom. Prior to the mid-1920s, the site of the Lawrence Hotel had been occupied by the legendary Netherlands Apartments, one of Uptown's first apartment buildings. "Old time north siders who fled before the invading hordes," wrote the Chicago Tribune, "will recall the Netherlands for its gabled roof, its half timber work, the bird cages in its pretty gardens, and its goldfish pool. And it was hinted that the building, then the abode of the Wilson avenue plutocrats, contained a swimming pool in its basement, though the report was not confirmed for the majority." The new Lawrence Hotel featured a distinctive art-deco architectural style and was touted as the epitome of "modern, effortless living" when it opened in late 1928. Among the Lawrence's most popular amenities were its indoor swimming pool, golf practice center, handball courts, exercise gymnasium, and rooftop garden with views of Lake Michigan. The hotel's 380 fully-furnished rooms were outfitted with stainless-steel kitchen appliances, furniture from [=Marshall Field and Company]], and linens, blankets, mattresses, and carpeting from Loren Miller and Company. Room rates in 1928 ranged from $75 to $160 per month.