WICHITA, Kan.—The Domain’s expansion is continuing its momentum with the addition of Archer Austin, a boutique, new-build hotel that will be located across the street from the recently announced Nordstrom store within the 304-acre upscale lifestyle development. LodgeWorks Partners LP, a privately-held hotel development and management company, has partnered with Endeavor Real Estate Group to bring the 168-room luxury hotel to life. This will mark the third property within the Archer collection, with Archer New York set to open May 28, 2014 and Archer Napa in advanced planning stages.
“Expanding the Archer collection into a destination as engaging and exciting as The Domain in Austin is tremendous and an absolutely perfect fit,” said Mike Daood, LodgeWorks president. “We have the benefit of again collaborating with our friends at Endeavor Real Estate Group and are honored to be part of such a wonderful, vibrant community and development.” This is the second Austin property for LodgeWorks, which also owns the successful Aloft Hotel at the Domain. When completed, the Domain is expected to include 1.8 million square-feet of retail space, 5,000 residential units, 3.5 million square-feet of office space, and 800 hotel rooms.
LawKingdon Architecture has incorporated a number of authentic Texas influences into the design and architecture plans for the 168-room, eight-story structure. Wood porcelain-tiled floors throughout many of the accommodations will be dotted with area rugs that have an antique, distressed look and feel to them. The rustic luxe theme will carry through to the wall coverings born from old leather belts behind the headboards in a number of rooms.
Each of the guestrooms is being designed to have a different feel, with as many as eight design palettes currently being considered. Canopy beds, varying headboards and footboards, large soaking tubs, and sliding glass doors creating indoor/outdoor spaces, are just some of the details that make Archer Austin unique from room to room.
“When designing Archer Austin we kept the clever ‘Keep Austin Weird’ theme central to our design,” said Roger Brown, SVP and director of design at LawKingdon Architecture. “It is a Texas-style sense of independence that reflects the eclectic, culturally-rich way of life that is unique to Austin. Archer will be an Austinite, an authentic Texan, through and through. The spaces will be engaging, yet youthful; contemporary, yet native.”
Photos of local bands and Austin’s favorite musical venues, as well as the music itself, will be featured throughout the hotel, while pops of color reflective of wildflowers (and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center) will be incorporated into the color scheme. Native Texas limestone in both smooth and broken finishes will be both inside and out; making its way from the exterior design into the lobby.
Archer Austin will boast a 35-foot atrium and almost 7,000 square feet of event space and pre-function areas that flow to a second floor patio with fire pits and outdoor bars. In the coming months, the culinary direction of a chef-driven restaurant and bar will be revealed, as well as targeted ground breaking.
“We couldn’t be more excited about LodgeWorks’ vision for Archer. Delivering a hotel with an emphasis on what makes Austin unique and exciting is a perfect addition to the retail, restaurants and entertainment venues that will be part of this next phase of The Domain,” said Ben Bufkin, principal, Endeavor Real Estate Group.
