The Forester, A HYATT Place Hotel, was envisioned by Janko Group to create Lake Forest’s first hotel built in 90 years, celebrating the community’s founding motto, Naturae et Scientiae Amor (“Love of Science and Nature”).
Challenge
Blending the expectations of the Hyatt Place brand with a locally rooted identity required a thoughtful approach to architecture and interiors. The design needed to complement the community’s established character while creating a contemporary destination that appeals to business and leisure travelers in Lake Forest, IL.
Solution
We created a design that blends modern forms, natural materials, industrial detailing, and metalwork inspired by the surrounding streetscape. Biophilic elements are woven throughout, including a reception desk crafted from a local oak tree, custom lighting, and glazing that strengthens connections to the outdoors.
Outcome
The result is a hospitality destination featuring 156 guestrooms, flexible event space, an upscale bistro and bar, and a private outdoor patio. While the common spaces create a boutique hotel experience, the guestrooms offer a premium stay in conjunction with the comfort and familiarity of Hyatt Place brand standards.
Custom lighting creates a distinctive focal point above the bar
A mix of lounge settings offers guests choice throughout their stay
The lobby blends modern lines, natural materials, and locally inspired design elements
The upscale bistro and bar serves as a social hub for guests and visitors
Science and nature are reflected throughout, from artwork inspired by local artists to floor-to-ceiling windows that provide access to natural light, all rooted in sustainability.
Fire features and outdoor seating create a comfortable setting for year-round use
The guestrooms maintain the comforts of Hyatt Place while embracing the hotel’s boutique-inspired character.
The design vision for The Forester, A Hyatt Place Hotel, was to create a guest experience that celebrates the Lake Forest, IL founding motto “Naturae et Scientiae Amor” (“Love of Science and Nature”). As the first boutique-inspired Hyatt Place in the world and the first new hotel to be built in over 90 years in Lake Forest, the investor and developer, Janko Group, envisioned chic and unique for the six-story custom project.
NORR created a design that was a blend of modern lines and natural materials with industrial detail and metalworks that provide an accompaniment to the existing architectural features of the Lake Forest streetscape. The white planar feature that acts as a backdrop and organizing element is a soaring trapezoid on the East, referring to the prototype Hyatt Place. Atop the building base is a high-tech, glass and metal panel element that defines the entry space. The interior biophilic design features a front desk sourced from a local oak tree and custom light fixtures that work to strengthen the indoor-outdoor relationships of the space. Science and nature are woven throughout from artwork inspired by local artists to floor-to-ceiling windows that provide access to natural light, all working together in a sustainability theme.
The result is a unique offering featuring 156 guest rooms, more than 4,500 square feet of flexible event space, an upscale bistro and bar, and a private patio. While the common spaces create the boutique experience, the guestrooms maintain the comforts of the Hyatt Place brand standards. In collaboration with long-time partners Hyatt and Janko Group, NORR delivered a cutting-edge design that offers guests a premium stay in the heart of Lake Forest’s Conway Park.
