Tempo by Hilton Washington DC Downtown transforms an underutilized office building into a hub of hospitality in the city’s Central Business District (CBD). Seeking to curate an engaging experience that defines the Tempo sub-brand, OTO Development partnered with JCJ Architecture as the interior architect responsible for the design of the hotel's interiors, including public spaces and guest rooms.

Located near Farragut Square, JCJ drew from the property’s surroundings to create a unique, custom design narrative that connects the hotel to the neighborhood’s art galleries and vibrant social experiences. Tempo cultivates the perfect setting for a variety of travelers, with a high-energy main lobby that contrasts the increasingly calm design on the upper floors. This dynamic environment is achieved through the purposeful incorporation of colors, materials, and textures, balancing energy with serenity.

The arrival experience is anchored by a warm, elevated dimensional millwork wall that creates a striking backdrop for the check-in area and surrounding lobby seating, cultivating an inviting setting for guests to gather and connect. This social energy carries through to the hotel’s signature restaurant, Public Interest, where a brasserie-inspired aesthetic introduces a moodier, more refined café-bar sensibility, distinctly set apart from the vibrancy of the lobby and street beyond. Positioned at the bustling corner of K Street and 18th Street, the restaurant’s prominent street presence is designed to draw in passersby, establishing it as a go-to neighborhood destination. Further, Tempo’s Bluestone Lane café and coffee shop offers a contrasting, more casual and upbeat environment for both hotel guests and the surrounding community.

The hotel is outfitted with a range of amenities to support both business and leisure travelers. The lobby is connected to a flexible meeting and event space featuring smaller zones like the private dining room, fitted with built-in banquettes and custom artwork, that can be closed off for conference or lounge setups. An expansive 2,800-square-foot fitness center is also available to guests, offering personalized touches of warmth that tie the space seamlessly into the hotel’s moody aesthetic. The twelfth floor houses a larger conference center and outdoor terrace, offering sweeping views of the city from the top of the building, perfect for hosting larger events.

The adaptive reuse of the existing office building posed challenges to the design team that required unique new approaches and subsequent solutions. Due to the constraints of the existing building, the guest rooms have a wide variety of unique layouts and configurations. This resulted in over 40 different room types, far exceeding the roughly 10 typically found in most hotels.

The guestrooms radiate a distinct residential feel with soft uplighting and king beds throughout, including in double-bedded rooms. En suite bathrooms feature gold fixtures throughout, layered with a custom terrazzo-look tile. Outside of guestrooms, custom entry murals picture overlaid maps of subways and trains, a subtle nod to D.C. that imbues the space with energy and movement.

Tempo by Hilton Washington DC Downtown presents a compelling example of how office real estate can be transformed into bustling community hubs. Through a purposeful approach to conversion, the design brings locals and travelers alike together under one roof to work, stay, eat, and socialize.

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Tempo by Hilton, Washington DC Downtown

Washington, DC, United States

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Tempo by Hilton, Washington DC Downtown

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Tempo by Hilton, Washington DC Downtown

Washington, DC, United States

Other Projects by JCJ Architecture

Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks

Choctaw Landing Hochatown

The Sagaponack

Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel

Choctaw Casino and Resort

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UConn Student Recreation Center

Casa Blanca Community School

JCJ Architecture Hartford Studio

Champions Center at UMass Amherst

Blue Devils Fitness Center, SUNY Fredonia

Wilbert Snow School

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David H. Koch Theater renovation at Lincoln Center

Tempo by Hilton, Washington DC Downtown

Washington, DC, United States

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team