Columbia Yacht Club is a private members' club founded in 1892, housed aboard The Abegweit — known as "The Abby" — a historic Great Lakes icebreaker ship permanently moored at Monroe Harbor on Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. One of Chicago's most distinctive waterfront landmarks, The Abby is a celebrated example of adaptive reuse, transforming a working vessel into a vibrant social and dining destination.

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zpd+a led the Phase I dining room and Phase II lobby renovations aboard The Abby, delivering refreshed interiors designed to elevate the member experience while honoring the club's storied heritage. The dining room renovation introduced an updated culinary program curated by a distinguished chef, balancing contemporary sophistication with the club's longstanding tradition of waterfront hospitality.

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The design draws on the natural palette of Monroe Harbor — sky blues, lake greys, and the Chicago skyline — rendered through chestnut wood millwork, vintage brass fixtures, maritime textiles, and leather seating. The material language honors the vessel's maritime identity while delivering a refined, welcoming environment suited to active private dining, member events, and waterfront entertaining.

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The Abby offers a one-of-a-kind lakefront experience unavailable anywhere else in Chicago — a private club founded in 1892 aboard a converted Great Lakes icebreaker, permanently moored on Lake Michigan with direct views of the downtown skyline. The renovation positions Columbia Yacht Club as a premier private dining and social destination on Chicago's downtown waterfront.