Hotel lobbies are the first point of contact with guests, providing an opportunity to make a great first impression. Upscale lobbies require a clever combination of luxury and budget design elements as well as a sense of place. They are also a high traffic area, and also work hard serving different functions like being used for breakfast, lunch and then for entertainment later in the evening. All of this is why designers at Santa Monica, Calif.-based Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) wanted to ensure the new design of the lobby of Sheraton Seattle, Seattle, was both eye-catching and inviting.
Metal creates an eye-catching focal point for arriving hotel guests
The four-star hotel opened in 1982. It continues to be a popular choice for Seattle visitors due to its proximity to the Washington State Convention & Trade Center and the retail core of downtown. After a $130 million renovation, which began in 2005, the Sheraton Seattle now includes 75,000 square feet of ballroom and breakout space, 47 meeting rooms and 1,258 guest rooms.
When the Sheraton Hotel decided to renovate their lobby in its downtown Seattle building, designers brought in Oakland, Calif.-based Móz Designs to create a unique solution for the structural columns located near guest check-in. Centrally located, these columns help modernize the hotel that has become a Seattle landmark. HBA used Móz’s solid-core, 3/16-inch aluminum to create six double-layered column covers. The outer layer is a custom laser-cut pattern in Classic Medium Bronze, which is complemented by a painted inner layer creating a 3-D effect.
Ultimately, HBA selected metal due to its durable, easy-to-clean and economical qualities. The installer was RB Woodcraft Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. Backlit acrylic panels in a golden stripe color from Newbury Park, Calif.-based Envel Design Corp.’s Impressions line add additional color and infuse the hotel lobby with light to create a decorative, contemporary feel.