CHICAGO, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lend Lease, through its legacy Bovis Lend Lease business, has been named General Contractor for America's premier upper-upscale Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in the internationally-acclaimed Aqua Tower in Chicago's evolving Lakeshore East community.

Through a joint venture of developer Magellan Development Group and Carlson Hotels, a Minnetonka, Minn. based global hospitality and travel company with more than 1,080 hotels in 77 countries, including more than 680 hotels in the Americas, the $125 million Radisson Blu Aqua will occupy the first 18 floors of the 87-story mixed-use tower which combines residential and commercial space as well as the hotel. The Aqua Tower has been widely recognized for outdoor terraces that differ in size and shape from floor to floor based on such criteria as views, solar shading and dwelling size/type that produce a strong connection to the outdoors and diverse cityscapes and was recently proclaimed "Skyscraper of the Year" by Emporis, the international building database.

"This landmark building in Chicago is the perfect fit for the contemporary debut of Radisson Blu in North America.  We believe our first upper-upscale Radisson Blu property in the U.S. is destined to become a destination in itself," said Thorsten Kirschke, president, Carlson Hotels, Americas.  "Positioned in the upper-upscale tier of the global hotel brand, our Radisson Blu Hotels are well established in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and we are looking forward to offering the Radisson Blu experience, with its focus on design, style and attention to detail in every respect, to travelers in the U.S."  

Magellan President David Carlins said the hotel should be up and running in the fall of 2011.  He expressed pleasure over the wordplay between a building named Aqua and a hotel concept named Blu.  "Aqua Blu -- its destiny" suggested Carlins. CBRE Hotels acted as advisor to Magellan in identifying an upscale hotel operating partner for the dedicated hotel space in the mixed-use Aqua Tower. John Karver of CBRE Hotels noted, "The location coupled with the building's extensive amenities will provide hotel guests with a truly unique experience that will be complemented by the international flair that has been created with Radisson Blu overseas."

The Radisson Blu Aqua hotel, which completes the stunning 87-story Aqua Tower designed by Studio Gang Architects, will be extraordinary as the successful launch of Blu hotels to the United States is a key part of the company's strategic growth plan to align the U.S. brand with its global standards. The hotel will be a full service luxury facility with 334 guest rooms and suites on floors 4 through 18 with a choice of distinct room styles, a 12,500-square-foot ballroom with 20-foot-high ceilings overlooking The Park at Lakeshore East, 29 meeting rooms ranging from 700 to 8,500 square feet for a total of 27,000 square feet of total meeting space and a contemporary 150-seat Filini-style Italian bar and restaurant.  

Swedish hospitality designer Christian Lundwall, who has been designing hotel rooms across Europe, the Middle East and Africa since the mid-1980s, is creating striking guest room interiors for the new space. Radisson Blu Aqua guests will have access to more diverse amenities than in any major city, indoors and out. A distinctive 80,000-square-foot green roof and amenity deck features luxury gardens, gazebos, swimming pools and cabanas, a hot tub, running/walking trail, fire pit and grills. Other building amenities include extensive fitness facilities, an indoor lap pool, a spa featuring hot tubs, sauna, steam and massage room, a private party suite with catering kitchen, media room, billiards and game area, business center, and skygarden.  

Rising in the heart of downtown Chicago, steps from world-class attractions such as Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park, Lakeshore East spans 28 acres and is believed to be the largest parcel of downtown land under development in a major U.S. city.  This $4 billion mixed-use development by Magellan Development Group in the rapidly growing New Eastside incorporates all the elements of a traditional city community, a lifestyle center that includes homes, retail, recreational opportunities and amenities such as a lush 6-acre public park and a CHALK preschool facility.

For additional information, visit the web site, www.MagellanDevelopment.com

About Lend Lease

Lend Lease is a leading international property and infrastructure group.  Listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Lend Lease has a significant presence in the Americas, Australia, Asia and Europe.  

In the US, Lend Lease offers over 90 years of experience in the project management and construction industry.  In the past decade alone, the firm has provided construction services on over 2,500 projects for 1,100 clients nationwide through its legacy Bovis Lend Lease business.  The company provides a full range of construction services including construction management, general contracting, program management, project management, design/build and consulting services.  

SOURCE Lend Lease