The Design Center at The Merchandise Mart will unveil a new amenity center for designers and shoppers this winter called “Lounge 1447”. This  facility, designed by designer and architect Gary Lee (who also planned the reorganization and corridor redesign for Design Center floors 14 and 15), will serve as a meeting spot, lounge, office and café on the 14^th floor. Lounge 1447, located in the Northwest corner will anchor the floor alongside top showrooms HOLLY HUNT, David Sutherland, Dessin Fournir Companies, Jean de Merry, and Century Furniture. The amenity center is the first of its kind in the country and will offer an array of informational resources and services for both the design professional and the visitor, all designed to make their visit to the Design Center more enjoyable.

“We’re excited our designers and the public will have a designated space to use for work and pleasure while visiting and shopping the Design Center showrooms,” said Julia Chappell, Managing Director of Marketing for the Design Center. “Lounge 1447 will become the go- to destination for all Design Center patrons. This will truly serve as an office-away-from-the-office.  We have also partnered with first floor tenant, The Artisan Cellar, to cater a Café inside Lounge 1447, which will serve espresso, cappuccino, fresh hot and cold delicacies and feature a sophisticated one of a kind wine list.”

Amenities for Design Professionals and Consumers:

• Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
• Full time Concierge
• Private conference rooms for meetings with clients while shopping the Design Center
• State-of-the-art audio/visual set up for private meetings both large and small
• The Artisan Cellar Café serving hot and cold breakfast, lunch, artisan cheese, snacks, pastries, full espresso bar serving Illy caffe,  and a  first class wine and craft beer list
• Café Tables and seating area for dining
• Computer and Work Stations to serve as an office away from the office
• Lounge atmosphere for interior designers and consumers to unwind between showroom appointments
• Seating for Educational Seminars, Industry Events and Presentations
• Design reference library to serve as inspiration

“We envision Lounge 1447 as the perfect venue to provide a true premier European café experience to a discerning clientele,” said Philip Bernstein, owner of The Artisan Cellar. “Patrons will be served on china; our wine list will consist of a select group of wines, many of which we are bringing exclusively to the Chicago market, and these wines will be served in Riedel glassware. Our food offerings, whether they be for breakfast, lunch, afternoon conferences, or fully catered receptions, will all be made fresh, using the finest ingredients found in Chicago,” added Bernstein.

In order to create an inviting environment where designers and visitors can relax, work and entertain, Lee envisioned a bright, open layout with designated seating areas. The facility is meant to accommodate special events, client meetings, business lunches, and leisure. Keeping with look of the newly designed 14^th and 15^th floor corridors, Lounge 1447 embodies the same sleek interiors with furniture, lighting and fabric from Design Center showrooms including HOLLY HUNT, ROMO, Jean de Merry, David Sutherland and his namesake showroom, Atelier Gary Lee.

“At Gary Lee Partners, our vision for the Lounge was to create an elegant, dynamic space that will provide a convenient place for designers and their clients to meet throughout their Mart experience,” added Lee. “The concept is designed to be an extension of the new corridor look and features world-class, contemporary products in a sophisticated palette of warm charcoal and platinum grays with caramel and ivory upholstery complements. For the Design community, it will be a great venue for the sharing of ideas.”

MMPI is a leading owner and operator of integrated showroom and office buildings, as well as trade show facilities, bringing buyers and sellers together through market events, trade and consumer shows and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart in Chicago; the Architects & Designers Building, 7 W New York and Piers 92/94 in New York City; and Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center in Cleveland.

Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.