Located on the campus headquarters of global tech leader Meta, a fitting location for citizenM’s growing collection of tech-savvy and design-driven hotel properties, citizenM Menlo Park, Calif., officially opened its doors in November 2023.
Marking the brand’s arrival at Meta’s Frank Gehry-designed campus, citizenM built the brand’s signature high-tech hotel—using efficient and sustainable modular construction systems—where modern travelers can sleep and work while enjoying contemporary art, designer furniture, and 24/7 food and drinks.
The red exterior stair is just one example of contemporary art. “This is a great instance of a code requirement evolving into a real design statement thanks to a creative project team,” says citizenM’s chief design officer Claudia Abt. “The red stair started as a necessary external egress staircase and ultimately became a signature feature of the building. We realized that we could enrich this piece of infrastructure with citizenM’s instantly recognizable red color scheme—integrating a powerful brand message with the architecture of the building.”
citizenM’s journey to Menlo Park started in 2016, when Meta (then Facebook) announced the development of the campus and a request for a hotel developer. After multiple rounds of discussion, citizenM won the bid to develop the project, beating out 18 other hotel brands. In 2020, construction of citizenM Menlo Park commenced.
By reducing construction waste by up to 60 percent, citizenM’s modular approach also reduces development duration by three to four months compared to a hotel built using traditional onsite methods. Emphasizing citizenM’s commitment to sustainability, citizenM Menlo Park has been constructed adhering to elevated environmental standards, encompassing energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction, and is working towards securing LEED Gold certification. This initiative aligns with citizenM’s broader environmental ethos—100 percent of citizenM hotels either hold green building certifications or are on the path to achieving them.
citizenM Menlo Park was designed by citizenM’s long standing architecture partner, concrete, and local firm, Baskervill—ensuring citizenM’s commitment to design, art, technology, and comfort is prominent throughout the guest experience, while also paying homage to Menlo Park.
