A landmark on Chicago’s famed “Magnificent Mile,” the Westin Michigan Avenue is rich in history and contemporary luxury. Originally scheduled to open its doors as the Continental Plaza on November 22, 1963; it was delayed until the following day due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Since its opening, the hotel has long been a popular retreat for celebrities, athletes and dignitaries from around the world. A founding member of Michigan Avenue’s architectural elite, the Westin Michigan Avenue serves as the benchmark in the luxury hospitality industry.

Standing 27 stories high and offering 752 contemporary guestrooms, 32 suites, and 42,000 square feet of award-winning meeting space, the hotel is ideal for prominent gatherings, business meetings, and weddings. To keep with their long-standing promise of a “transformative hotel experience,” the Westin ensures the upmost comfort throughout every room of the hotel. To help deliver this required comfort the hotel contracts with Anchor Mechanical, an experienced Chicagoland HVAC/Plumbing contractor and local KMC Controls authorized partner, to provide and install KMC products. Building management understood that being able to precisely control their HVAC system would help create the comfortable and healthy environment that building occupants came to expect.

The hotel is familiar with KMC products. For their original installation in 1994 the hotel elected a KMC proprietary system. The project consisted of a sub-net LAN of approximately 30 KMD-5501 and KMD-5502 controllers; controlling everything from the air handling units, to chiller and boiler plants, to the exhaust fans and other central system components.

“Ever since our first installation we have never had a problem with our KMC system,” said the hotel’s Director of Operations, Bob Thomas.

To further showcase their desire to remain in touch with new trends and their customers, the Westin Michigan Avenue decided to move forward with an aggressive renovation plan.

“Management wanted to build on their culture of sustainability and to make their hotel more comfortable, environmentally friendly, and energy efficient,” said Anchor Mechanical’s Service Technician, Steve Rosner.

The existing KMC system was upgraded to include a new KMC controllers and a KMC TotalControl graphical user interface was installed to provide onsite graphics for the building’s Chief Engineer, as well as offsite web-based access for Thomas and Anchor Mechanical’s service team.

“The system allows us to monitor and quickly respond to any building issues that may occur, whether we are at the hotel or not. We can make any necessary adjustments right through the internet. It’s simply amazing,” Thomas said. “Anchor Mechanical and KMC are very much alike. When you need them, they are there. What more could you ask for? A great combination of two companies.”