Trump Hotel Collection has revealed its plans for the $200 million redevelopment of the Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. With construction beginning in the spring of 2014, the hotel was expected to open in late 2015.
Being led by local architects Beyer Blinder Belle, the Atlanta-based interior design firm HBA, and historic advisors and preservation specialists John Cullinane & Associates, the hotel’s design will nod towards its European heritage with Romanesque elements.
“Americans are innovators and are always propelled forward,” says designer Betsy Hughes of HBA. “The interiors are inspired by the strength of the massive 1899 Richardsonian Romanesque Revival edifice, with its carved stone and astounding level of detailing. The materials are more muscular than they would have been in France or England, and we have juxtaposed the masculinity and stateliness of the building with softer furnishings.”
The Cortile—a nine-story atrium housing the grand lobby and lounge—will welcome guests beyond the entrance, furnished in deep red, aubergine, sapphire, and emerald with gold accents and outfitted with handwoven area rugs, a water sculpture, and brass and crystal chandeliers.
The 270 guestrooms boast the largest square footage in the city, along with 14- to 16-foot ceilings, existing millwork, and crystal sconces and chandeliers. The transitional design will offer a palette of Federal blue, cream, and ivory hues paired with gold and silver accents and punctuated with deep red. The American design aesthetic will be further enhanced by thick wool carpets, stone tops, and wood furnishings. A guestroom art program will also tell the story of the Old Post Office.
In addition, two presidential suites will be located in the historic former offices of the postmaster general. Complementing the 16-foot ceilings and views of Pennsylvania Avenue and the National Mall, each suite will include original fireplaces, wood doors, and moldings.
Among the public spaces, the historic library will feature a 25-foot coffered ceiling, high arched windows, ornate columns, intricate millwork, hardwood floors, velvet draperies, and handwoven area rugs. The hotel’s clock tower will house the official United States Bells of Congress—a bicentennial gift from England celebrating the end of the Revolutionary War. A dedicated entrance on the south side of the building through C Street will welcome visitors with an Old Post Office museum, exhibition center, and retail outlets.
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