CLUB ROAD: Winter 2024

Friends —

This year, Chambers is proud to be celebrating our 125th anniversary. We hope we are making Mr. Chambers proud as we continue to perpetuate his selfproclaimed “little jewel of a company” into the future. As many of our clients know, it requires a delicate balance of honoring history and preserving legacy while continuing to move forward. So for this issue of Club Road, it felt fitting to highlight one of our clients who is wellknown for doing just that.

We are honored to have partnered with The Union League of Philadelphia over the last several years and thrilled to showcase their latest endeavor—a new rooftop restaurant perched atop their historic League House. It’s called Trumbauer’s It’s an amazing feat of architecture and engineering with stunning elegance and unmatched views of the city. We are so proud to have been a part of this journey and we hope you feel as inspired by the finished product as we do.

Rick Snellinger Bob Hickman President & CEO Chairman of the Board

EMAIL RICK EMAIL BOB

RAISING THE BAR

Envisioning the Future to Leave a Lasting Legacy

The private club industry is abuzz with talk of changing lifestyles, shifting demographics, and evolving to meet member needs. In fact, the true danger for a private club lies in choosing not to evolve as the world continues to change around us. And regardless of the shape, size, or location of a particular club, all success stories have one thing in common: They began with a vision for the future.

For years, The Union League of Philadelphia has been an exemplary model for envisioning the future and developing a thoughtful plan to achieve it. The recent unveiling of Trumbauer’s—its new rooftop restaurant—is the latest impressive achievement for a Club that is willing to make big moves and take risks, all in the name of preserving its legacy.

Here, we delve into the intricate elements of this unique project and how its success is grounded in respecting history, committing to excellence, and overcoming challenges to achieve a desired goal.

BUILDING A LEGACY

Since its inception in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, The Union League of Philadelphia has remained dedicated to its founding motto: Amor Patriae Ducit or Love of Country Leads. And just as its original members represented the Philadelphia region’s leaders in all industries, the Union League is now comprised of over 4,000 men and women who continue to enrich the Club’s culture and keep its traditions alive.

With its dedication to freedom and free enterprise, the Union League has continually evolved to promote historic preservation, education, and leadership. It is this inspiring mission that has led the Union League to its prominence across the country and around the world. In the private club industry, specifically, The Union League of Philadelphia has been consistently voted the #1 City Club in the United States since 2012. How? Steadfast leadership with an eye to the future—and a plan on how to get there.

MAKING MOVES

The Union League has a history of making bold yet sensible moves to provide its members with a plethora of unique amenities. In addition to carefully and strategically planning for the future of the League House, which occupies an entire city block in the center of Philadelphia’s commercial and cultural district, the Club has expanded its reach to include additional properties, such as standalone restaurants, golf courses, a hotel, and event space. Each new endeavor is thoughtfully planned and executed with one goal: to enhance the Club’s legacy.

The Union League contacted Chambers in 2019 to assist with the development of a long-term Master Plan for its facilities over the next 10-15 years. While the overarching planning efforts included concepts for several of the Club’s properties, as well as opportunities to elevate various areas within the League House, ideas for the next bold transformation quickly began to take shape.

During a facility tour that included a review of the aging mechanical systems located on the roof of the League House, the team began to envision an amenity unlike any other in Philadelphia—a rooftop restaurant with an unmatched view of Center City.

CRAFTING ELEGANCE

Built in 1865, the League House is a five-story structure that boasts 250,000 SF of space. The new rooftop dining venue (fondly named Trumbauer’s after Horace Trumbauer, the architect who designed the beaux arts annex in 1911) adds a sixth story to the building.

This impressive feat of architecture and engineering spans 10,800 SF, which includes 9,400 SF of indoor space and a 1,400 SF terrace. The sophisticated design of Trumbauer’s, with its warm, neutral color palette, high-quality materials, and expansive views, epitomizes the Club’s endless pursuit of excellence.

The goal? To create a contemporary dining venue that offers a generously welcoming, yet reassuringly exclusive experience with historic context. The challenge? Ensuring that the design would feel elegant and new while respecting the Club’s history and responding to the existing architecture.

The central skylight, which mimics the shape of the existing arched eyebrow dormers on the building’s exterior, floods the bar area with natural light. A custom art installation hangs from the ceiling and is comprised of shapes that are inspired by the building’s architecture. The reflective properties of the shapes’ anodized aluminum material creates a unique display of moving shadows across the skylight atrium walls, transforming the aesthetic within the atrium as light changes throughout the day.

The bar area flows seamlessly to the adjacent upscale dining space, which contains a mixture of banquette and table seating. Lighted wine displays separate the bar area from a private dining space that is flooded with rich blue hues, wood...

Elevated Palates

Crafting a Modern Culinary Experience at the Union League

In the dynamic realm of culinary arts, private clubs are redefining the member dining experience by skillfully blending tradition with contemporary trends. But striking the right balance between time-honored practices and innovative approaches requires thoughtful consideration. From open kitchen concepts to curated menus and innovative bar offerings, private clubs are setting the stage for a culinary journey that engages the senses—and Trumbauer’s at The Union League of Philadelphia is leading the charge.

ALLURING AMBIANCE

When conceptualizing the new rooftop dining venue, the Club envisioned an elegant and sophisticated space with a high-end chop house feel. This extraordinary dining experience incorporates craft cocktails, wines by the glass, and a simple but delicious menu featuring the freshest ingredients.

The focal point of the design is the bar itself, which is situated beneath a dramatic skylight atrium that encapsulates the space. Fifteen bar stools direct members’ attention to a beautifully illuminated brass bottle display that maintains an open concept to preserve the view of Center City. A central buddy bar with a gas fireplace accompanies the bar, providing unique seating and socialization opportunities for nights when energy is high and the bar stools are full. Flanking the bar area are two distinctive dining spaces. The main dining area is characterized by warm hues, curved leather...

INNOVATIVE OFFERINGS

In the contemporary culinary landscape, the bar experience transcends mere libations; it’s a hub of creativity. Craft cocktails are taking center stage, with skilled mixologists infusing unique flavors with fresh, local ingredients. Keep reading to learn more about temperaturecontrolled wine storage, the open kitchen concept, a dedicated oyster bar, and more...

Lighting the Way

With Insights from Caitlin Bucari at The Lighting Practice

There are certainly many facets of private club design. And while elements such as overall architectural structure, interior ambiance, and the selection of furniture and accessories are more obvious components of the renovation process—there are so many other nuances to consider.

Are outdoor spaces a focal point that could be enhanced by a landscape architect? Does the project involve unique acoustic elements, requiring the expertise of an acoustician? Perhaps a kitchen consultant could elevate the culinary experience. This is where teaming up with consultants who specialize in specific areas becomes pivotal.

In the case of the new rooftop dining venue at The Union League of Philadelphia, the importance of lighting took center stage. Here, we discuss the unique benefits of lighting design with Caitlin Bucari, Senior Lighting Designer at The Lighting Practice, and explore what made designing for Trumbauer’s unique.

“The skylight over Trumbauer’s creates a very different mood during daytime versus at dusk or nighttime,” Bucari notes. “This really emphasized the importance of the Club being able to utilize different light settings to achieve those varying experiences.”

BUILDING STRONG TEAMS

In the ever-evolving landscape of private club design, the success of projects hinges on the strength of partnerships and collaboration. For 125 years, Chambers has emphasized the importance of developing and fostering relationships—with clients, with industry partners, with each other. When you develop strong partnerships that wholeheartedly embrace shared values, innovation, and collaboration, anything is possible. And such was the case with the talented team of people that came together to bring The Union League of Philadelphia’s rooftop restaurant to life.

SELECTING PARTNERS

The coordination between designers, architects, engineers, and construction teams is a critical component to achieving project goals. Creating an effective team goes beyond assembling individuals; it’s about synergy, communication, and a shared vision.

REFINING DETAILS

Throughout the design and documentation process, significant coordination occurs between architects, interior designers, consultants, and the general contractor. While typical consultants often include structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers, a consultant team could also include acoustical engineers, landscape architects, swimming pool designers, and more.

WORKING TOGETHER

Once the project team was assembled, coordination began. Building on such a historic structure has inherent challenges and presented a series of challenges that tested our collective ingenuity and collaboration.

What’s Trending in Tech?

PART II: THE IMPACT OF T ECHNOLOGY ON PRIVATE CLUB DESIGN

In an era marked by technological leaps, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is undergoing a transformation. The integration of modern technology is reshaping the way firms approach projects and enhancing the overall design process.

In Part I of this series, we explored how AI-driven personalization tools are enhancing the member experience in private clubs, focusing on technologydriven trends for member engagement, automation, personalization, and health & wellness integration.

In Part II, we explore seven unique technological advances that can significantly impact a firm’s ability to provide private club clients with better, more thoughtful, and more integrated architecture and design solutions— which ultimately leads to an enhanced member experience.