This hotel raises the bar for creating an authentic, guest-focused lodging experience. A major feature of the hotel is a 50-piece art collection curated by the local contemporary art museum. The art gives the building a distinct sense of place and enlivens its public spaces. The building responds to a detailed program that includes 209 guest and extended stay rooms, a restaurant and bar, a lobby that can also serve as an event space a fitness center and a conference center. The urban site was restricted by neighboring structures and the existing road network. The front façade includes a central vertical element with the bar extending as a horizontal element that connects to the streetscape. Natural materials were used throughout. Because the artwork was such a focus of the development, the architects paid particular attention to the lighting conditions—balancing natural and artificial light sources for optimal viewing. Guests enter the hotel at the ground level and move to the reception area via a grand stairway. The conference wing overlooks a large outdoor plaza and provides break out rooms, large and small meeting rooms and a ballroom. A dramatic penthouse features a boardroom that accommodates 12 as well as a luxurious guest suite. The hotel is seeking LEED certification. It features energy and water conserving systems including a storm water collection and irrigation system that includes a 2,500 gallon cistern. Reclaimed materials were used in the foundation as well as in the retaining walls and landscaping.
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