Paul Alessandro is a Partner at HPA, and has more than 25 years of experience designing complex mixed-use, residential, cultural, hospitality and civic projects. He has led the firm’s Preservation Group, and specializes in the renovation, restoration and adaptive re-use of historic structures. His portfolio of award-winning historic projects includes the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, a landmarked turn-of-the-century athletic club transformed into a boutique hotel and Randolph Tower City Apartments, a 43-story landmark and Chicago’s tallest terra cotta-clad tower. He most recently oversaw the renovation and landmarking of the Essex Inn Hotel, which included updating the Michigan Avenue Historic District Designation Report, and its 56-story residential tower addition, Essex on the Park.

He believes that the unique character older structures bestow to their communities is irreplaceable and embraces the artistic and technical challenge of transforming them for contemporary use. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University.