What Happened to McDonald’s Former Illinois Headquarters? It’s Now a Sustainable Hotel

Crouching between tall grass and cattails, I lean forward to frame two elegant, white swans drifting to and fro in Oakbrook, a western Chicago suburb. Not quite the McDonald’s mascots I was expecting, but they are an elegant hint at the reflection in the water; a timeless, sustainable hotel.

Illinois isn’t the place I’d expect to find one, especially not folded into the framework of the former McDonalds Headquarters. But, everything about Hyatt Lodge Oakbrook is a puzzle of juxtapositions: acreage and Chicago, McDonald’s and eco-friendly, fast-food and luxury, iconicly historical and deliciously modern, too. 

The Surprising History Behind This Illinois Nature Hotel

I’m a nature and hospitality gal; I was curious about the McDonald’s angle, but all ears for niche terms like LEED (Leadership in Environmental Design) certification and Green Key Eco- ratings (the most widely recognized certification for hotels that meet high environmental standards). Neither is easy to achieve, are highly coveted in the realm of sustainable hospitality and are now somehow linked with McDonald’s. But even that fascinating mishmash probably wouldn’t lure me to visit.

What got me to Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook was the added elements of repurposed buildings and the proclamation of an actual nature hotel near Chicago. Originally built in the 1970s, the former McDonald’s headquarters, Hamburger University, and the 74-acre corporate campus were purposefully designed to be park-like, as a kind of forever green space. The same goes for the intentionally adaptive Midcentury Modern structures throughout. They were always expected to evolve with the onset of a new era. In 2018, that era arrived when McDonald’s decided to close up shop in Oakbrook in lieu of a new address in downtown Chicago. Hyatt reinvented the existing campus hotel, choosing to preserve and capitalize on the existing design, the perfect nest for a sustainable nature hotel. 

What It Feels Like to Stay Here Today

I’d heard rumors about golden M door handles and walls full of quirky ad art. I half expected to be served French fries on a platter and to walk on carpets monogrammed with golden arches. Fortunately, I was spared from any such embellishments and could barely find a trace of the hotel’s former fast-food heyday. Instead, the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook has perfected the art of understated luxury. The hallways, galleries, dining areas, swimming pool, and stairwells all effortlessly draw the eyes back outside. And each cozy suite has a glass slider leading to tiny balconies overlooking quaint gardens. There’s even a pedestrian bridge, laid out like a floating white sash, that leads to garden nooks worthy of a romance novel.  A little farther from the hotel’s threshold, a babbling creek invites trail walkers into a woodland oasis forged in giant, mature trees and peekaboo views of the water.

A Nature Escape Just Outside Chicago

The outdoors beckon here. And not in a city greenway kind of way. Instead, it’s an oasis, comparable to hotels with nature trails in Illinois that boast state park cloaks. Except there’s no state park, you’re smack dab in the middle of an ironic ‘70s psychedelic dream from the CEO of McDonald’s. Plus his legendary Chicago architect (Dirk Lohan), who turned it into reality. It almost feels pre-emptive, like Ronald McDonald knew we’d need this Illinois nature escape 50 years into the future. So here we are, less than one-hour of clogged Windy City traffic from downtown Chicago, sleeping in a suburban wonderland, in a heavily wooded super-park with bewitching swans. And the greatest part is that you don’t have to be McDonald’s elite to stay here; the sprawling property is ideal and doesn’t break the bank (some rooms start under $250 per night) for anyone who desires a nature escape.

Inside the Rooms and Amenities

I’m always drooling to hear about the newest, unique hotels near Chicago, but it’s rarely about the room itself. I like places that tell a story, not just in print, but in essence, too. It’s the combination of an iconic pool, a delectable brunch, and a room with a balcony that does it for me. And Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook gets five stars for having all of that - and for being family-friendly, too. From the slider that opened up to butterflies getting drunk on tree pollen, to the pool with a glass roof that left us floating on our backs more than swimming laps, and even down to the pancakes covered with silver domes at breakfast, my whole family was smitten. Here, the amenities are the experience, not the afterthought, and that’s the only way to correctly spell hospitality. 

How This Hotel Became a Leader in Sustainability

Beyond the aura and essence of staying at this eco-friendly hotel, I could rattle off dozens of parameters that prove its sustainable significance. Most of them go unnoticed to the untrained eye, and even I wouldn’t have an inkling without the endless jargon, certifications, and awards that make them so. But without this proof, it’s far too easy to simply say a hotel is “green” without doing anything special at all. Instead, the Hyatt Lodge Oakbrook is a LEED-certified hotel. Illinois has several, but this one also claims a Green Key Eco-rating, an ISO 14001 environmental management certificate. All of them offer high levels of proof that this nature hotel near Chicago goes the extra mile to be environmentally responsible, proactive, and accountable.

What Sustainable Design Looks Like in Real Life

Although many elements of sustainability are not visible, there are tangible examples of the hotel’s efforts to take note of. Likely, you wouldn’t even notice, but the ceilings are painted with low-VOC paint, the floors feature recycled carpets and sustainable bamboo. All glass tables are made from recycled glass bottles, end tables are made with post-consumer recycled paper, and the LED lightbulbs last 15 years longer than traditional bulbs. Every room also features hypoallergenic bedding, and the hotel uses a 24/7 air purification system. How this translates to you, as the guest, is a supreme level of comfort, with ultimate indoor air quality, low carbon output, and environmental stewardship.

Whether you are someone looking for unique hotels in Chicago, nature hotels, or eco-friendly hotels, Illinois offers one of the best at Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook on the former McDonald’s Campus. And while you won’t find golden arches and French fries, you will find a remarkable hotel, both historic and modern, within an 88-acre forest preserve in the Chicago suburb of Oakbrook. 

Sources: GreenLodgingNews, Building Design & Construction Network, WightCo, Architect Magazine