Condé Nast Traveler recently published its list of the 15 Best Hotels in D.C. According to the article by Laura Ratliff, “…thanks to some pioneering boutique hotels and some hip, design-forward additions, D.C.’s hotel scene is more befitting of the national capital, with a diversity that echoes the city itself.”
Among the prominent hotels featured in the esteemed publication’s rankings, the InterContinental DC Wharf hotel has drawn particular interest from locals and visitors alike. BBGM provided architectural design services for the new twelve-story hotel building as well as construction documentation and construction administration for the interior designer. The InterContinental Washington D.C. at The Wharf achieved LEED Gold certification.
“Our client, Carr City Centers, tasked us with the unique challenge of incorporating a ballroom with waterfront views,” said Bahram Kamali, AIA, BBGM Senior Principal in charge of the project. “Our design team was able to achieve this feat through a flexible design approach, and successfully delivered a ballroom that is unique to Washington, D.C., featuring two glass faces with views of both the waterfront and City Pier Plaza.“
The hotel takes design cues from the project site while incorporating the functional and spatial necessities of the hotel. The hotel includes 278 guestrooms, a three-meal restaurant, retail spaces, ballroom, meeting rooms, spa and fitness rooms, and two special function meeting rooms, as well as the Sky Bar, a premier lounge open to the public. The Sky Bar offers fantastic views past the inlet to the Potomac River and the Jefferson Memorial. The rooftop also features a pool for hotel guests.
The design intent was to create a modern expression for a waterfront building that plays with the ‘harborside’ aesthetic in various ways. The primary materials are red brick, slate grey metal, and glass. The three-story base of the building features a granite base, brick piers, and metal-framed glass panels.
In addition to the InterContinental DC Wharf, BBGM also provided design services for three other hotel properties on the list, including the Watergate Hotel, the Mandarin Oriental and The Graham boutique hotel in Georgetown. With ongoing expansion and renovation projects at two of the four BBGM-designed properties, the internationally renowned architecture and interior design firm continues to provide guidance and design services to accommodate the ever-evolving needs of their clients’ discerning guests.
