The new 14,500 square-foot American Airlines (AA) Admirals Club at Washington National Airport (DCA) is the first iteration of a new design narrative in service of a bespoke hospitality guest experience. Conceived as a series of Pavilions–like a park, piazza or square–the new concept is the repose to airport chaos. In total, the lounge is a collection of memorable spaces curated for the guest experience where wayfinding is intuitive, every touchpoint is thoughtful, needs are anticipated, and local context is embedded in the obvious and yet to be discovered.
Inspired by the journey itself–the landscapes we fly over–the Club instills a universal sense of wanderlust. The Lounge Pavilion is defined by tall wood slats creating an inner sanctuary centered around a fireplace and oriented toward a panoramic view of the city’s iconic landmarks. Tucked further into the lounge is a Quiet room with high-back rockers, city views and tempered lighting for restful breaks. The Dining Pavilion is located opposite the Lounge Pavilion for acoustic separation and visually differentiated by vertical white tubes and a wood lattice “canopy” for openness. Within, a series of large wood portals define the booth area and frame an exterior view of the airport apron and beyond. Between the portals is an art wall “dream sequence” of DC monuments. Throughout the Club, lighting is moderated to the astronomical clock for added guest wellness and relaxed comfort.
Many design features also fold in stories of aviation and American Airlines. These references can be seen engraved in the stone reception desk or hinted at in the AA-red floor stripe, blue hues in the carpet, decorative screens, accent tables and floor lamp geometry. No matter where guests are, the experience is customized to needs and preferences woven with thoughtful details, brand features and hidden surprises.
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