WINDOWS CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of Pella EFCO Commercial Solutions

Project: The Peabody Hotel Renovation
Location: Memphis, Tennessee

The Challenge: The Peabody Hotel first opened in 1869 in Memphis, Tennessee, on the corner of Main and Monroe and soon became the go-to place for both business and social affairs. In 1925, The Peabody Hotel moved to Union and 2nd Street, where, over the following 56 years, The Peabody withstood wars and economic crisis, eventually helping to revitalize downtown Memphis during its 1981 renovation. Through it all, various traditions, such as the March of the Peabody Ducks

The Design Solution: In hopes of providing guests with a more restful stay, the hotel owners, a local glazier, and a window manufacturer teamed up to determine how to meet modern needs of sound control, energy conservation, durability, and guest comfort. All of this had to be done in the context of meeting the requirements of the building that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The solution emerged when the window manufacturer reviewed the original blueprints of the 1925 building and determined that they could create custom dies and component profiles to replicate the original window design. Because of the quantity of windows needed, this custom fabrication was able to be done within the project budget successfully.

The Results: Each of the new windows were fabricated to meet an AAMA Architectural Grade as a historical replica window. Multiple glazing options were available with double-pane insulating glass units decided upon. A thermal barrier in the frame improves thermal performance, enhancing energy-saving potential. The appropriate subframes, mullions, and architectural sills provided the complete solution for the fenestration needs of the Peabody Hotel. The result was a dramatic increase in both thermal and acoustical performance, resulting in a quiet and comfortable living area for guests.

OPENING GLASS WALL CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of NanaWall Systems

Project: Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Designer: Design Continuum of Atlanta, Georgia

The Challenge: Looking to regain the sparkle and glamour needed to compete with newer Fort Lauderdale hotels and resorts, the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation. The 50-year-old modern classic hotel, situated on Florida’s Intercostal Waterway and featuring dazzling views against a lush tropical backdrop, was a property in need of a bold design firm to help burnish its mid-century luster, and Design Continuum of Atlanta was selected to make it happen. Along with the owners, it determined that one critical area of the renovation was the hotel restaurant. The design team felt it was important to both divide the restaurant from other public areas within the first floor and yet also have the option of dividing the restaurant up to accommodate varying numbers of patrons throughout the day. Installing simple, one-size-fits-all sliding doors was not an option.

The Design Solution: The president of Design Continuum, Woody Faust, explains how the solution arose: “We selected a wood folding opening glass wall system, which proved to be an ideal choice for the Hyatt renovation.” The selected system is top-hung and features monumentally sized, paired panels made of cross-grained, solid wood. The openings can range from two panels to as many as 12 (with each panel being up to 43 inches wide) with both inward and outward opening panels, which allow maximum design flexibility. A total of 72 panels with 14 openings were installed to provide the necessarily functionality. The three-layer, crossed-grained, solid wood frame and aluminum head jamb clad with matching wood fascia pieces on both sides create a harmonious, unified aesthetic.

The Results: According to Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Food and Beverage Manager Tamas Vago, “The opening glass walls allow the restaurant to divide the space to accommodate as many people as needed throughout the day, which is key to the restaurant’s functionality and aesthetic appeal. Our restaurant handles 50 to 350 people, and we needed moveable walls to help us divide the large room.” The large glass panels allow light into the room, and the well-designed door system is easy for the hotel staff to use daily. The restaurant is more open and attractive, contributing to increased guest occupancy, and the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six is now restored to its original midcentury glamour.

INTERIOR SLIDING DOOR CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of Hawa Group Americas Inc.

Project: Hampton Inn & Suites
Location: York South, Pennsylvania

The Challenge: This hotel is one of many Hampton Inns that provides all of its guests with a complimentary breakfast buffet as part of their overnight stay. The facility includes 100 guest rooms and suites, a 576-square-foot meeting room, heated indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, and a designated area to serve the breakfast buffet adjacent to the seating area. The design criteria called for a means to make the buffet area readily accessible to guests when breakfast was being served but prevent guest access to this area when not in use.

The Design Solution: A telescoping sliding door system provided just the solution for the 18-by-7-foot opening between the buffet serving area and the common seating area off of the lobby. The system is comprised of two telescoping hardware sets that bi-part and accommodates three doors each that retract fully into wall pockets, making them disappear from sight when opened. Further, the top-hung system requires no bottom guide, which leaves a free and clear threshold thereby, eliminating any tripping hazards or accessibility barriers. This type of system incorporates multiple top tracks and a belt-operated system that allows the leading door once pulled to engage and open the additional panels, making the system very easy for the hotel staff to operate.

The Results: The telescopic sliding panel system has proven to be a durable, attractive and cost-effective door solution for wide openings in this hospitality setting. It’s availability in wood or glass and up to three panels per system make it easy to replicate at other properties as well.

PLANTER CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of Planters Unlimited

Project: 1900 Market Street Custom Sloped Fiberglass Planters
Location: Philadelphia, PA

The Challenge: When approached to produce custom planters and accents for Philadelphia’s 1900 Market Street interior courtyard, the manufacturer worked diligently to deliver exactly what the design team was looking for. Incorporating approximately 80 planters in the outside space, the specifications required manufacturing the planters using a fire-retardant resin, per building owner requirements.

The Design Solution: Rising to that challenge, the manufactured planters followed the architect’s specific design for clean, simple fiberglass units in a contemporary style, but with a twist. First, the planters were clustered, and individual planters within each cluster incorporated sloped edges that extended out from the group. Next, the landscape architects wanted to create a seamless toe-kick perimeter for each planter group. This meant that the toe kicks would not go around all sides of each planter. This was achieved by customizing each planter, according to its cluster, to reveal a toe kick only around its outside edges. Overall, these planters were designed and built to exact specifications, seamlessly integrating into the architectural design of the building’s concrete, steel, and glass curtain walls. Once filled with an eclectic combination of succulents, grasses, small trees, and red blooms, the bright planters contributed to the upscale courtyard with the desired affect the designer sought.

The Results: By utilizing a premier-quality, custom planter manufacturer, the design team was able to help boost the market value of this commercial property.

PROTECTIVE SURFACE CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of Inpro

Project: Embassy Suites by Hilton™
Location: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Designer: MSI General Corp., Nashotah, Wisconsin

The Project: A complete renovation of a privately owned hotel to a new Embassy Suites hotel consisting of five floors, 203 guest suites, meeting and conference rooms, and a grand ballroom and foyer.

Products Used: A full range of protective products were used in this facility to enhance durability and reduce maintenance needs:

• Door and Wall Protection Systems: Corner guards and wall guards in designer-selected colors to suit overall interior design
• Fabric Privacy Systems: Pinch pleat drapery and sheers in all guest rooms and specialty suites
• Architectural Signage: Back-painted photopolymer signs with frosted paint, a gold accent, and printed evacuation maps in each suite

VRF ZONING SYSTEM CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating

Project: The Hotel Wilshire
Location: Los Angeles, California
Architect: Killefer Flammang Architects, Los Angeles, California
HVAC Engineer: Creative Engineering Group, Canoga Park, California

The Challenge: Los Angeles real estate partners Michael Orwitz and Spence Mitchum have developed residential apartments, commercial retail projects, and boutique hotels throughout the city in partnership with OSM Investment Company. The sweet spot for these developers is finding hidden gems and overlooked opportunities in up-and-coming neighborhoods. In 2008, the pair identified a dilapidated six-story medical building situated on the Miracle Mile between Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Where others saw an outdated structure, Orwitz and Mitchum recognized an opportunity to make a good investment in a great location. They saw the densely populated Miracle Mile as the ideal marketplace for a boutique hotel. To make this vision a reality, they assembled a team of experienced hospitality professionals and got to work.

The Design Solution: The design team, headed up by the architectural firm of Killefer Flammang Architects of Los Angeles, envisioned the Hotel Wilshire as a luxury boutique hotel with 55 guest rooms, 19 suites (including one rooftop penthouse suite), plus common areas, including an added roof deck with a swimming pool. Christine Cho, AIA, LEED AP BD C, Killefer Flammang Architects’ chief architect for LEED certification and sustainable design, says, “For our goal of LEED Silver for The Hotel Wilshire, we wanted the highest number of LEED EAc1 points [Optimize Energy Performance credits]. After researching many systems and options, we viewed the selection of the VRF zoning system as a good way to realize energy savings and earn the key LEED credits in the Energy and Atmosphere section.”

Walter Jukes, the project manager for consulting engineers Creative Engineering Group, says, “When Killefer Flammang asked us to join The Hotel Wilshire design team, I was interested, in part, to work on this electric VRF zoning system because it was still a new technology here in California. What we discovered was compelling.” He continues: “Several things stand out. Because we had very little real estate on the roof, the VRF outdoor units were ideal because of their small footprint. Furthermore, the system allowed us to combine condensers, saving even more space. With a traditional split system, we would have had a huge HVAC farm on the rooftop, which would have meant no room for the pool.” The VRF zoning system had other key engineering benefits, too. It is the only two-pipe system in the industry that can deliver simultaneous cooling and heating, which means less material to penetrate the roof membrane. Further, because thermal comfort control is an important LEED prerequisite, the indoor units’ ability to control individual comfort in each guest room was a huge advantage. And finally, the noise levels of both the rooftop condensers and the individual fan coils in the guest rooms are so low that guests often don’t know they are even operating.

The Results: Less than 12 months after its September 2011 opening, the hotel was awarded a Four Diamond Ranking by AAA, listed as one of the top 10 new hotels by Fox News, received kudos from Redbook and Harper’s Bazaar, and made California + Home Design magazine’s list of “The Top 50 Best Designed Hotels.” The hotel’s general manager, Debra Matsumoto, describes the VRF HVAC system as “seamless and silent.” She says, “As we all know, one of the most common complaints at hotels is the noisy, uncomfortable HVAC system forever turning off and on in your room. In contrast, The Hotel Wilshire indoor units are so quiet and the room is so comfortable that the sleeping experience here is unlike any other.”