This article will explore products for the exterior and interior of hotel buildings as illustrations of a few of the ways hotels are making themselves more sustainable and energy-efficient. From wrapping buildings with efficient air barriers to expanding small spaces with sliding doors, design professionals will be provided with a snapshot of integrated design solutions that can help their clients in the hospitality industry.

Space-saving sliding doors allow for the reduction of overall square footage at the Ravel Hotel in New York City. Photo courtesy of The Sliding Door Company

 

The particular challenge to hotel design is that projects need solutions that can be applied across identical buildings in many different parts of the world. Exterior products that can be specified for installation and performance in any climate are cost-effective. Interior products that can be installed or removed on a three- to five-year cycle have added benefits. Durability and easy maintenance are important factors to add to the cost analysis for this market.

When it comes to interiors, the actual design of guest rooms has the largest impact for a green hotel project. In addition to paying attention to air quality and finishes, the design professional should maximize the use of space to reduce construction and associated environmental impacts. Eco-friendly hotels need to be stylish and provide a sense of luxury as well as maintaining a connection to the local environment. Designers are looking at ways to make a statement by using materials that as Matteo Baceda, principal of Modernus, states, "are functional as well as have a large visual impact like the doors in a room. User and tactile experience are important to the aesthetics and branding of a hotel room design." To meet this challenge, design professionals are using more finishes that are natural and they pay a lot of attention to the technical specifications of the products they use. To increase air quality, they are using materials that have low VOCs or are formaldehyde-free. They are also exploring strategies to provide greater access to daylight and fresh air, such as daylight harvesting and the use of operable windows and all-glass door systems.

Green roofs save energy and also provide new views from hotel windows. Photo courtesy of Henry Company

 

This article will also look at green product choices, such as sliding doors, and their impact on hotel aesthetics. Glass sliding doors, for example, allow the designer to take advantage of daylight harvesting while maximizing space in small rooms. One case study will show how manufacturers can use integrated problem solving and solutions-based design to develop durable, fashionable products scaled and multiplied for many installations. Doors are just one of many products that can be specified with components made of recycled or recyclable materials, and with low-VOC finishes to protect air quality.