Home to the world’s largest naval station and one of NATO’s two strategic command headquarters, Norfolk, Va., is considered the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.
The new Hilton Norfolk at The Main, which is scheduled to begin construction this fall, will pay tribute to the region’s storied shipbuilding heritage in unexpected ways. Situated only a couple blocks from the water with direct views of the Elizabeth River, Chesapeake Bay, and the USS Wisconsin battleship, the 19-story ground-up property will feature subtle nautical, industrial, and military-inspired design elements.
Richmond, Va.-based Baskervill is providing interior design services to Cooper Carry Architects for the 273-room hotel and 50,000-square foot conference center, slated to open in 2017. The city of Norfolk and Gold Key | PHR Hotels & Resorts, based in Virginia Beach, are partners in the public-private initiative. Baskervill’s scope of the work includes the property’s multi-story atrium, lobby and public spaces, and guestrooms. The hotel will also offer three full-service restaurants developed by Washington, D.C.-based food and beverage consultant Streetsense.
The focal point of the building is a five-story atrium surrounded in glass that will draw locals into the space and become an asset to the city. Landscaped terraces between levels with plush seating arrangements create a park-like feel. “It’s the first thing you experience upon entering the hotel, and we’re really hoping that’s where a lot of activity forms and that locals enjoy it as much as the out-of-town guests,” says Beth Temple, Baskervill’s lead interior designer on the project.
Cooper Carry and Baskervill have been working closely together to create a design aesthetic and architectural language that tie not only the interior design and overall architecture together but also create a seamless connection between inside and out, says Andrea Schaub, AIA, LEED AP, associate director in Cooper Carry’s Hospitality Specialty Practice Group.
“The layered massing of the overall building is reflected in the design of all the vertical and horizontal elements within the atrium that create the gathering ‘decks’ and other feature elements,” Schaub says. “We also worked closely to pull these meeting elements from the atrium interior to the exterior in our ‘pocket park’ to further emphasize the connection and to establish a civic, public feel within the atrium itself.”
With natural materials and heavy accents of wood, the ground level sets the tone for the spaces to follow above. A tiled floor, made to look like concrete, adds an industrial vibe while metal accents align with the fluidity of the surrounding water.
The second-level hotel lobby has crisp metallic, sculptural accents and textural influences. A 30-foot high feature wall behind the front desk is constructed from a metal mesh curtain and printed with an abstract image of a ship’s propeller underwater. “That is a complete tie-in to the surroundings of the property, and then it’s highlighted with a warm wood millwork piece to set it off and make it not so cold and hard,” Temple says. “That’s the language we established throughout—highlighting different accents with the metal but making sure it’s not cold. We want the entire area to be warm and inviting.”
The property’s state-of-the-art convention center, referred to as The Exchange, is spread over two floors. “Everyone really grasped on to that concept of, this is where the exchange of ideas and meeting new people is going to occur,” Temple says. Unique features include a Think Tank room with lounge-style seating that shies away from the traditional formal boardroom to foster creative activity.
In the guestrooms, Baskervill used the Hilton brand standards to create a neutral, sophisticated palette accented with blues, teals, and greens. Custom-made carpets reference a nautical map and a translucent linear piece of artwork illuminated over the headboard references the water.
To build the design narrative, Baskervill looked through old black-and-white photos of sailors coming back from World War II and other military scenes, but Temple says the firm didn’t want to take the obvious route. “We wanted to celebrate it in another way and not just have your typical historic photos throughout. We’re doing our best to really enhance the design with different nods to that nautical military life, but it’s not so literal.”
Hotel design projects typically begin by conducting research on the location and identifying what makes it special, and Temple says the naval station and military presence certainly play a major role. “You have to touch on that in some form,” she says. “It may not be your main feature or main focus of the design, but it has to be introduced in some way or you’re not doing the city justice. They’re very proud of it there, so why not celebrate it more?”
