HBA COMPLETES COLOURFUL BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN CINCINNATI – THE SUMMIT A DOLCE HOTEL BY WYNDHAM

Posted in News, Projects on 1 October, 2018

Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) has completed the design of The Summit, a Dolce Hotel by Wyndham in the Madisonville neighbourhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. The boutique hotel is an adaptive re-use project with an interesting history that was weaved into the design story. Originally the Nutone door chime and fan ventilation factory built in 1950, the property became the new headquarters of Medpace – a medical research campus. The old factory structure became an unused parking garage, which was well known for its signature rainbow painted columns visible from many directions.

Architects transformed the structure into a nine-storey, 239-guest room boutique hotel aimed at the business traveller with a strong emphasis on group conferencing and collaborative spaces. Cincinnati is a thriving Midwestern city with a budding art culture. The design vision for the hotel interiors was to marry inspiration from the building’s industrial roots in combination with modern, art centric features to create a unique experience for business groups.

“The brief called for a boutique, art centric hotel with an emphasis on attracting meeting groups,” said Nicole Smith, Associate at HBA’s Atlanta office. “Working with an art consultant, the hotel took on a creative and inspiring element we aimed to enhance and complement through our design. The art and the building’s history prompted a need for bold colours and patterns, with industrial undertones.”

The lobby has 20-foot ceilings with the original exposed sandblasted columns, stained concrete floors and an industrial metal clad floating staircase. Modern flexible seating welcomes guests waiting for their group or working alone. An artistic metal screen reception desk with display case for industrial factory parts and a massive modern abstract art mural act as a colourful visual. Linear light slots wrap from the ceiling down the wall.

“Some of my favourite design inspirations were weaving industrial factory elements throughout the design of the hotel, seen in the feature staircase, furniture, lighting and artwork,” said Smith. “We created angled vents in rainbow colours that surround the atrium, which hint towards the former painted columns of the garage, and integrated the existing columns into the public spaces and guest rooms.” Eclectic and asymmetrical modern furniture arrangements also adorn the atrium space.

The coffee bar/nourishment hub is adjacent to the lobby atrium near lobby level meeting rooms. It is a warm, welcoming environment with a food and beverage self-serve kitchen where guests can help themselves to snacks. A variety of seating groups provide a break out space for meetings, or space for individuals to work or relax. The long communal table is a fun, eclectic element that features illuminated motivational words. A linear fireplace makes the space feel cosy and intimate.

The library room positioned at the back corner of the lobby atrium is a private lounge space designed for small group functions, or as an unexpected fun space for guests to play pool and hang out. The unique artwork and brightly coloured accent shelves make this space playful.

The fourth floor meeting areas and break out spaces create a welcoming, art centric environment for group functions to gather and work collaboratively.

The restaurant and bar offer locally sourced food and a relaxed design. Warm woods with black iron act as industrial accents. As a nod to Cincinnati’s pork industry, kitschy pork art references are a playful touch.

The guest room module is deep so that there is space for comfortable seating at the window wall. The overall design has subtle ties medical research. The headboard mural is an image of a DNA strand under the microscope. There are strong accent colours of red that tie back to the building’s exterior windows. Modern custom furniture is grounded by a bold area rug. The bathroom mural is an abstract watercolour Cincinnati river city scene.