First introduced in 1966 as the Illinois Bell Telephone Company headquarters, 255 Randolph Street in Chicago is reborn at the hand of Ste. Marie. Reintroduced as the Bell, the stylish 100,000-square-foot workplace showcases corporate and cultural storytelling inspired by the optimism of midcentury modern design. “There was a time when corporate interiors had glamour. Workplaces were aspirational environments. There was ceremony in arriving, gathering, hosting,” says Ste. Marie founder, principal, and creative director Craig Stanghetta. “That cultural attitude became a foundation for us.”
Inside the cantilevered, New Formalist tower, layered interiors unfold akin to a hotel as they promote work and leisure. Ground floor amenities flow into one another, with the lobby connecting to the 200-seat bistro and bar. Coworking, meeting, wellness spaces—including dedicated sports courts—and even terraces further echo the redesign’s midcentury glam. “We wanted to reintroduce ritual into the workplace: the morning coffee in the lobby, a mid-day game in the social rooms, an evening drink overlooking the skyline. There’s a sense of warmth and hospitality throughout, but also dignity,” Stanghetta adds. “The Bell is meant to feel confident, social, restorative, and distinctly Chicago.”
Original elements like marble, walnut, terrazzo, and brass are restored and reinterpreted to freshen the existing framework. Retained terrazzo floors and rich Verde Guatemala marbles in the lobby are paired with eclectic seating and midcentury-style geometric art, textiles, and rugs inspired by Gio Ponti and Ettore Sottsass. Polished brass and reflective metals accent intimate custom banquettes and walnut millwork, while wood and travertine line wellness and fitness studios. An undulating staircase connects the clubhouse in the uppermost levels, where a mix of lounge, bar, and social settings link to landscaped cabanas and terraces overlooking the Chicago skyline.
