G70, CRA Design combine for Hawaii Prince’s $55.4M upgrade

"Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club is undergoing a $55.4 million redevelopment and repositioning. Hawaii-based G70 (formerly Group 70 International) is the project's lead architect. Los Angeles-based Creative Resource Associates Design will focus on interior design.

The redesigned lobby, including a handcrafted ceiling installation by local artist Kaili Chun, will have areas to socialize, rest, shop and dine. The new interior design will incorporate the hotel's sense of place by complementing the panoramic ocean views available from every guestroom.

Once completed in spring 2017, the property will also have a new name: Prince Waikiki. The eight-month refurbishment marks the hotel's first major remodel since its opening on April 20, 1990.

Located at the gateway to Waikiki overlooking the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, the property will transform 563 oceanfront guestrooms and suites, add all-new dining options, modernize the lobby, add a new infinity pool, and enhance the meeting space.

Natural elements will be highlighted in the design to give the property a Hawaiian sense of place, including the muliwai or estuary; the Piinaio, a convergence of three fresh water streams from the mountains; the naioflower, an indigenous plant; the hinana, a juvenile fish; and limu eleele, a seaweed.

Also as the hotel repositions itself as a sanctuary in Waikiki, there will be artful touches added throughout the property. These will include a newly commissioned art sculpture designed by local artist Kaili Chun.

Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo will open its first overseas location on the hotel's lobby level in December.

Watabe Wedding Corporation will  develop its first high-rise wedding chapel on the 33rd floor of Prince Waikiki, complete with panoramic vistas of Ala Wai Harbor, the Pacific Ocean and Oahu's south shore. The wedding chapel will open in spring 2017.

Meanwhile, Honolulu Coffee will be located in the hotel's new lobby."

Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki Undergoes $55.4M Redevelopment

"HONOLULU—Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club has embarked on a $55.4-million redevelopment and repositioning.

Once completed in spring 2017, the property will emerge as a brand new hotel with a brand new name: Prince Waikiki. The eight-month refurbishment marks the hotel's first major remodel since its grand opening on April 20, 1990.

The property will include 563 oceanfront guestrooms and suites, all-new dining options, a modernized lobby, a new infinity pool and a meeting space. Hawaii-based G70 (formerly Group 70 International) is the project's lead architect. Los Angeles-based Creative Resource Associates (CRA) Design will focus on interior design. 

"In working with our design team and identifying our Hawaiian heritage, we decided to focus on key elements that would really elevate our sense of place and bring our story to life throughout the resort," said Donn Takahashi, president of Prince Resorts Hawaii. "They are the muliwai, or abundant, thriving estuary; the Piinaio, a convergence of three fresh-water streams from the mountains; the naio flower, which is an indigenous restorative plant; the hinana, which is a nourishing juvenile fish; and limu eleele which is a rejuvenating seaweed."

Prince Waikiki has partnered with several new food and beverage companies. Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo will open its first overseas location on the hotel's lobby level in December. Watabe Wedding expects to host its first wedding parties in spring 2017. Honolulu Coffee will be located in the hotel's new lobby. "

Lincoln Restaurant and 1936 Bar to Open at JW Marriott in Scottsdale

"Two new F&B venues will debut next month at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. Both the Lincoln Restaurant and Bar 1936—a nod to the property’s 80-year history—will revel in views of Camelback Mountain and the colors of Arizona sunsets.

Los Angeles-based interior design studio Creative Resource Associates crafted the eatery and bar in a style inspired by Arizona and California’s sprawling landscapes. With an aesthetic deemed “Sophisticated Ranch,” the design seamlessly links indoor and outdoor environments with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides of the restaurant. The modern interior is also clad with sliding barn doors that lead to private dining rooms.

Chandeliers 64 inches in diameter illuminate dining room tables, reinterpreting the form of Beaux Arts fixtures with clean lines and sharp angles, while slender, ribbed-glass hurricanes hold shimmering bulbs that flicker like candles. 

Featured in both the bar and restaurant, tooled leather wallcoverings frame private booths. In the bar, hand hewn communal tables also feature toasting rails ideal for celebration. "

Taking Flight- Marriott's new design taxis to Houston airport

The New Year brought about an exciting completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation at the Houston Airport Marriott in Texas.  Showcased in the January/February 2016 issue of Hotel Business Design, Marriott’s new design of the 573-room Houston property, owned by Host Hotels and Resorts presented CRA with a unique opportunity to capture the essence of the vibrant city. 

Design Director Bianca Yih noted the appeal of the two year project could be summed up in two words: “The Challenge.”  Examples of that include a round tower that required a gutted lobby-level space plan; relocation of a three-meal restaurant to the lobby level; and the addition of a new bar lounge. 

The designers wanted to feature a sense of place.  “We incorporated icons in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways.  At the front desk, for example, the message is clear: You have arrived in Texas.  A Custom, hammer-nailed embossed motif resembles a cowboy boot; the pattern launches other elements within the hotel [Yih designed the feature using more than 4,000 copper-head nails].  For example, fabrics at the bar reflect and reinforce the design vernacular.  Front desk pods are clad in etched-metal panels, framed in natural stone.  Adjacent to the reception, the bar combines sleek elements with rustic front panels of reclaimed-wood planks.  The hammered metal again is incorporated to patina the space.  The engaging story was reflected and reinforced throughout,” said Yih. 

The design team and ownership were keenly aware of the Marriott Hotels’ message: the Marriott Modern DNA.  Initial meetings held with Marriott’s global design team helped to guide and shape the way CRA thought of and envisioned the spaces.  As Marriott evolved to reinvent the guest experience, we, too, were driven to stay ahead of the curve by creating a design with functionality that reflects today’s traveler.  For more information, please reach out to info@cradesign.com

Behind the Scenes at the Hyatt Regency Maui

At CRA, we deliver design for impact - here's a great article from our friends at iWorks documenting our latest success at the Hyatt Maui:

Project: Hyatt Maui Lobby

Location: Maui, HI

Designer:  Creative Resource Associates

Purchaser: Benjamin West

The Request:  The client requested a dramatic, large-scale installation based upon starry Hawaiian nights and local island flora. Giant starburst pendants and bamboo inspired screens were the developed concept for this quasi open-air lobby.

Design Challenges:  iWorks determined that the success of the project was dependent upon addressing the challenges of Hawaii’s unique location and extreme climate possibilities. In doing so, we chose anti-corrosive materials which withstand the salt-air environment, made structural considerations that allow for anticipated high-wind loads, and formed a specific team to address the logistical issues relating to coordinating this complex installation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. These unique obstacles were addressed in conjunction with the project’s overall design requirements.

The Solutions:  iWorks utilized a water jet to cut aluminum sheets for the large-scale screens. This rustproof material was installed in the gage required to ensure adequate structural integrity. Each 23’-0”H x 6’-0”w panel is designed to withstand hurricane-force wind loads. The custom acrylic core inset into each screen was sectioned in a manner to allow the seams to be hidden behind the decorative metalwork.

iWorks created a custom resin mold for the starburst sunrays on each pendant. The 60” sunrays were cast in resin, rather than glass, due to weight and safety concerns. Both the center globe and the sunrays were protectively sealed against salt-air and the elements. Due to the potential for high-winds, the sunrays may be disassembled and stored for safety, in such an event.

iWorks packaged the pendants and screens in numbered shipping crates. Once on the property, the crates were unpacked in their specific numbered order, which helped to ensure a smooth installation. iWorks engaged in extensive communication with the property regarding the logistics of the installation, prior to the arrival of the fixtures. Once on the site, iWorks’ technical team assisted local contractors during the 12-day installation process.

You Have to Know: The sunrays are hollow in design, allowing light to wash through them, enhancing the fixture and making it appear to glow from within.

$8 million Marriott Renaissance Hotel renovation nears end

The Marriott Renaissance Hotel in downtown Long Beach has nearly completed its $8 million renovation.

The upgrades include 374 newly designed guest rooms, including suites and the Presidential Suite, and an upgraded fitness center, lounge and lobby. The pool will be upgraded later.

“Long Beach is a dynamic city with a fun and kinetic energy,” Hydee Hirschmann, the principal of Creative Resource Associates, which designed the rooms, said in a statement. “The room design at the Renaissance Long Beach was created to represent the soothing, tranquil sea within the vibrancy of the city. The hotel design offers a peaceful retreat which mutes the noise of a busy day and the magical, soulful qualities of the sea.”

CRA WINS CONTRACT FOR JW MARRIOTT, BAHRAIN

The Dubai branch of the LA-based design studio, CRA, has signed an agreement with developer KhaleejCapita to design the interiors for JW Marriott in Bahrain Bay.

The project is 97,000 square meters and has one 50 story tower staggered and connected through a series of atriums atop a 5-story podium with three parking levels.

The east side of the tower will house the 276-room JW Marriott Hotel and its related facilities, the west side of the tower will house 96 serviced apartments. The 5-story podium includes a banquet and meeting room, the main entries, lobbies, and common areas for restaurants, bars and health clubs.

“Unlike some studios we are not a faceless corporation. Rather than relying on mid-level designers, we as senior partners are actively handling all stages of the design process from concept to construction,” said Martin Wojnowski, regional director CRA Middle East and Asia.

CRA’s Dubai branch opened last year, the company is now finalizing agreements with investors in the GCC and the Indian sub-continent.

“We are very proud to be involved with JW Marriott Bahrain Bay. The architecture by Yousif Alsayegh is truly exceptional. We were briefed to develop design in the eclectic, international style (rather than the regional one). We believe the hotel will offer a great deal of comfort, individuality, sophistication and understated luxury expected from the JW Marriott brand,” added Wojnowski.

Established in LA in 1994, CRA is a design studio specializing in high-end hospitality projects. CRA’s founding partners: Mike Lindenlaub, Hydee Hirschmann and Fernando deMoraes are involved in all projects.

Close collaboration with Peter Morton, founder of Hard Rock Hotels, on its Las Vegas property had brought CRA wider recognition. It has completed over 40 hotels in Mexico, USA, Taiwan and KSA.

Ongoing projects include: Hyatt Regency Maui, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach and a boutique celebrity retreat in Mexico. The studio has recently completed various private residences in Hollywood Hills.