\u00a9 Papercamera\/Tracey Brown Photography<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n Inspired by the Nation\u2019s Capital \u00a9 Stephen Wilkes<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n <\/i><\/p>\n \u201cTechnically, when you walk up to the Washington Monument, you ascend a series of steps,\u201d explains Eddie Abeyta, principal and design director at HKS. \u201cThis [plan] is allowing the guest to arrive and be lifted above the natural terrain, to experience the landmark and the panoramic view of the hotel and the surroundings.\u201d The landmark he refers to is the knife-like 24-story hotel tower, which mimics the verticality of the Washington Monument and aligns parallel with the National Mall. Its bespoke unitized curtain-wall structure incorporates insulated low-e glass with ceramic vertical frits that not only help control solar heat gain in the rooms and corridors, but also enhance the overall aesthetic inside and out.<\/p>\n From the hotel\u2019s porte coch\u00e8re<\/i> on the eastern end all the way to the resort\u2019s western or rearmost point (the equivalent of five urban city blocks), the site plan is like one big nod to the L\u2019Enfant and McMillan Plans of D.C. It\u2019s organized on a central spine of connected experiences, for instance, while its oval-shaped entrance conservatory evokes D.C.\u2019s circular parks with spokes that lead to other parts of the resort, including the 125,000-square-foot casino, fine and casual dining facilities, retail shops, the 3,000-seat theater and hotel.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Robb Scharetg<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n The latter is accessed via a grand helical staircase topped with a dramatic chandelier composed of 892 hand-blown Czech glass droplets with varying opacities, a centerpiece that was conceived by the resort\u2019s main interior designer Studio GAIA. On the hotel-lobby level, regional context is reinforced yet again, giving this property a distinct identity from its Vegas counterparts. \u201cOne of the guiding principles that were outlined by our client was to respect and complement surroundings,\u201d says Abeyta. \u201cYou\u2019re right along the banks of the Potomac River, overlooking the beautiful rolling hills and treetops. So the project was really trying to connect the guest with the D.C. symbolism but also this natural environment.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/i>This sentiment is carried through planning and aesthetics as well as specially commissioned art. Behind the hotel check-in desks, a large-scale installation by Prince George\u2019s County artist Margaret Boozer reconstructs a map of the area with 10,000 pounds of clay that was excavated from the construction site. And D.C.\u2019s famous cherry blossoms were captured by local photographer Ron Beverly and blown up into vinyl wall coverings for the lobby bar and mezzanine overlooking the conservatory.<\/p>\n Veering From the Vegas Archetype <\/i><\/p>\n A far cry from Sin City resorts, the neutral and natural shades may seem a bit out of the ordinary and too subdued, but, explains Waisbrod, \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to compete with the architecture \u2014 it\u2019s very monumental. That\u2019s why we used a very monotone palette but played with the scale.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a9 Papercamera\/Tracey Brown Photography<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n <\/i>Studio GAIA continued this aesthetic and palette in the 308 guest rooms and suites, most notably implementing wood proscenium-like frames that recall the slatted wood canopies of the lobby level. These built-ins frame the bed headboards as well as the bathroom vanities and mirrors. Waisbrod likens this millwork to the interior of a yacht, yet another inspiration given the hotel\u2019s views of the waterfront and its sailing vessels.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Robb Scharetg<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n A Grand Finale \u201cIt\u2019s a really great place to congregate, and the connection that you have with the Potomac is spectacular from this vantage point,\u201d says Abeyta. Overlooking a part of the river where D.C., Virginia and Maryland converge, MGM\u2019s Potomac Plaza even affords a distant view of the Washington Monument \u2014 the very landmark that largely inspired this monumental project.<\/p>\n With the country\u2019s most famous historic monuments \u2014 and not to mention the seat of government \u2014 located right in its backyard, a new casino resort on the Potomac would need to show reverence to the District of Columbia but still dazzle throngs of locals and tourists alike if it\u2019s to thrive as a gaming…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"projects","architizer_featured_image":"1914956","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,3],"tags":[],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-industry","category-inspiration"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
The hotel tower curtain-wall system is by Gamma USA using SYP glass; the porte-coch\u00e8re soffit is clad in Reynobond\u2019s composite metal panels; manual doors are by D.S. Specialties with Rockwood hardware; the revolving doors are by Crane with Dorma hardware.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/b>On approach to the $1.4 billion LEED Gold\u2013certified MGM National Harbor, visitors encounter a visually striking and massive plinth clad in precast concrete in a shade of white that recalls the stone monuments of D.C. Surprisingly, this stepped structure is actually a utilitarian parking facility that the architects nestled into the slope of the uneven site \u2014 which rises 95 feet from west to east \u2014 so that guests driving to MGM National Harbor end up \u201cascending\u201d to the resort\u2019s main entrance.<\/p>\n\n\t
The parking structure cladding is by Arban & Carosi; the sloping TPO roof by GAF helps in collection of rainwater for the resort\u2019s cistern, which in turn funnels the water toward irrigation and flushing systems. Photo by Stephen Wilkes<\/i><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
The ceramic fritting on the hotel\u2019s curtain wall becomes a decorative element for the floor-to-ceiling windows in guest rooms and suites, too; carpet tile is by Interface Hospitality and vinyl wall coverings are by Innovation and Koroseal.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo by Robb Scharetg<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t
The conservatory rotunda is topped with a custom unitized skylight by Gamma USA using SYP glass. This space was designed by Ed Libby Company & Events.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
A staircase leading up to the hotel lobby boasts a custom chandelier fabricated by Preciosa. The lobby bar features Ron Beverly\u2019s cherry blossom wallpaper produced by Koroseal, backlit glass from Carvart, Daltile\u2019s granite bar top and broadloom carpet from Ulster. Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Margaret Boozer\u2019s map made with dirt dug up on the resort\u2019s construction site prominently hangs behind the hotel check-in desks; the engineered blond wood floors are by Kent Wood. Photo by Robb Scharetg<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/b>The earthy yet refined palette throughout the lobby \u201cwork[s] together with the outdoors \u2014 the woods, the water and nature,\u201d reiterates Studio GAIA\u2019s Ilan Waisbrod. \u201cIt\u2019s very elegant but very subtle and quiet,\u201d he says of the finishes his firm specified for this level, from amber-tinted translucent glass and neutral-hued broadloom carpet to granite countertops and an abundance of woodnotes. The timber comes in the form of light-hued engineered wood floors and veneers on all the custom millwork such as slatted architectural wall and canopy elements. These elements are dividers that weave through the lobby, lobby bar and ballroom and meeting-room corridor at different heights to create a more intimate feel and human scale within the soaring space.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Wood-veneered slatted structures form dividers and canopies throughout the lobby level, including in the convention and meeting facility corridor; millwork veneer is Echowood and broadloom carpet is by Ulster. Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t
Proscenium-like white-oak built-ins frame headboards and bath mirrors in standard guest rooms; the paint is Benjamin Moore, carpet is by Interface Hospitality and vinyl wall coverings are by Koroseal.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t
Potomac Plaza features exposed columns by Banker Steel Company supporting the roof canopy; Reynobond\u2019s composite metal panels clad the soffit; a Panasonic LED video board and MGM signage back the fountain\u2019s reflecting pool.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/b>Back downstairs just beyond the frenetic casino, the westernmost end of the site plan features the serene Potomac Plaza, a landscaped terrace atop the parking structure\u2019s roof. Because this deck offers expansive views of the river and various waterfront amusements such as the Capital Wheel, it was also the logical spot to situate a few of the resort\u2019s 15 dining establishments. Celebrity chef Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s opened his restaurant Fish within the corridor that faces this plaza, with the option to extend the seating out onto the terrace should the weather permit. Meanwhile, a reflecting pool following the oval shape of the roof deck features a 100-jet fountain that\u2019s enhanced at night by programmed color-changing LEDs and an additional LED video wall that displays digital artwork as well as promotions.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Capital Wheel and the river view from Potomac Plaza. Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Fine dining restaurants at MGM National Harbor include Voltaggio Brothers Steak House by Design Bureaux. Photo by Robb Scharetg<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Private dining at Voltaggio Brothers Steak House. Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
The library bar of Voltaggio Brothers Steak House. <\/i>Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Fish by Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s restaurant features a heavily nautical theme by Avenue Interiors and Cappella Garcia.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Marcus, named for its celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, is located in the conservatory rotunda and features interiors by Parts & Labor Design. Photo by Robb Scharetg<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
Photo by Sheila Kim<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
<\/span>The theater lobby at MGM National Harbor is located just off one side of the conservatory; since the resort\u2019s opening, this event space has played host to major acts including Bruno Mars, Sting and Duran Duran.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"