In January, the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, located in San Diego, expanded its Altitude Sky Lounge by adding a new indoor-outdoor venue called City Sights. Anny Rouillard, director of design at Stanford Hotels Corporation, the company that owns and operates the property, led the charge in converting a former fitness center into a sleek sky-high destination. Perched on the rooftop, 22 stories above street level, the new space allows guests to host sophisticated business meetings or intimate, year-round gatherings with a 360-degree look at San Diego’s most exciting sights. “We wanted this space to be multifunctional—to be a place for gathering where people could appreciate the beautiful view,” Rouillard says.
Flex Time
With modular chairs and a variety of cocktail tables, the furniture is flexible for a variety of applications. “The layout can be changed depending on the function,” Rouillard says. “We wanted people to be able to move around.”
Peekaboo
Because most of the walls in the space are neutral, Rouillard sought to create an accent wall. “The screen on the wall is a focal point,” she says. Made out of MDF, the cutout screen allows light to shine through for a whimsical effect.
Barfly
The corner bar, which attracts attention with up-lit bottles in the evening and posh stainless steel accents, can easily be hidden during daytime meetings by pulling down roller shades.
Mood Lighting
To transition the space from day to night, Rouillard and her team installed high-tech lighting that changes colors and intensity throughout the evening. “At night we have this fantastic light show that showcases different settings and different moods,” Rouillard says. “It gives the space a lot of energy.”
