Canopy by Hilton recently announced plans to develop new properties in Austin, Texas, and Tempe, Ariz. Canopy by Hilton Austin is scheduled to break ground in June 2018 and open in January 2020 while Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown, University Area is expected to break ground in May 2018 and open its doors by December 2019.
Each property in the lifestyle brand is designed as a natural extension of its neighborhood with connections to local art, food, drink, and culture. Guests will have access to mobile check-in, complimentary WiFi, complimentary breakfast, and evening tastings of local wines, beers, and spirits during their stay. In addition, guests will receive a welcome gift inspired by the destination when they check in.
Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown
The developer and owner for Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown is locally based Scenic Capital Advisors, a private real estate investment firm founded by Richard Singleton. The property is a few minutes walk from several of Austin’s high profile employers such as Google, Facebook, Wholefoods/Amazon, GSDM, and Cirrus Logic.
The 140-room hotel will have five suites, a guest lobby, and an open-air courtyard that connects to a full-service restaurant and bar. Amenities also include an elevated pool deck with views of the street scene and downtown Austin.
“Canopy by Hilton fits seamlessly into the Austin Downtown District,” says Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. “Known for a dynamic pop-art and music scene, the Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown property will offer guests a truly fresh and local Austin experience while establishing a strong new identity for this classic neighborhood.”
Led by Lake/ Flato Architects, the hotel design team includes interior design firm, Seifert Murphy, and landscape architects, Hocker Design Group. “We wanted to deliver a project that both compliments the neighborhood while also elevating the West 6th Street district,” says Rick Singleton, principal at Scenic Capital Advisors. “We chose architects and designers who understand Canopy’s neighborhood-centric concept and would be able to create a hotel with a unique look intrinsic to the neighborhood and streetscape.”
Connected to the street and open to the neighborhood community as well as hotel guests, the courtyard will function as a haven from the hustle and bustle of West 6th Street’s high-energy nightlife. Comfortable seating within the courtyard will be surrounded by natural materials, greenery, and water to capture the sense of Austin’s natural environment. Framing the courtyard, Canopy Central, the bar/lounge and restaurant, will offer guests a variety of welcoming and intimate spaces including a sidewalk café, comfortable bar/lounge, cozy outdoor fireplace and reclusive guest retreat. Perched above street level, the pool deck will serve as an elevated front porch, complete with poolside loungers and a pavilion with full-service bar to create a community space suitable for small gatherings and private events. Additionally, a fitness center on the lobby level will be available for guests.
Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown, University Area
The builder behind the new Canopy by Hilton in Tempe, Ariz., is Driftwood Acquisitions & Development (DAD), a company with a strategic focus on hotel and resort acquisitions. The more than $60 million, 200-room hotel is in the heart of Tempe on University Drive across from Arizona State University, one of the largest public university campuses by enrollment in the United States.
Located five miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the property’s central location will provide guests with easy access to shopping centers, culinary offerings, entertainment centers such as the Wells Fargo Arena, and local landmarks including Tempe Beach Park, Tempe Town Lake, Jaycee Park, and Hayden Butte.
“Tempe is a thriving and energetic community, and this project demonstrates our continued belief in the long-term future of the area,” says Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of Driftwood Acquisitions & Development. “This property will be an exciting addition to the downtown area, encouraging guests to live like locals. We are pleased to once again work with the Canopy team at Hilton, and we can’t wait to get started.”
DAD is purchasing the land parcel from The OPUS Group to anchor a corner of the group’s full block, mixed-use development Union Tempe—two residential high-rise apartment towers connected to 31,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space.
“The Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown, University Area will be a perfect complement in completing our mixed-use vision for Union Tempe,” says Brett Hopper, senior director of real estate development for Opus Development Company. “This is exactly the concept we were envisioning, and we’re excited to bring this innovative hotel with its unique design to Downtown Tempe.”
When it opens, the property will span 14 floors and include a lobby-level café, a gym, more than 3,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a rooftop pool and terrace bar, cabanas, and a fire pit. The hotel will be managed by DAD’s affiliate, Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM). This is Driftwood’s second Canopy by Hilton project–its first, the Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach, broke ground in Q4 2017.
“We are thrilled to bring Canopy by Hilton to the Arizona State University and downtown community,” says Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. “The Tempe neighborhood perfectly aligns with our ethos, extending a love of local and fresh approach to hospitality, and is an ideal anchor for our lifestyle brand in Arizona.”
Allen + Philp is the architect and designer of record, Sundt Construction, Inc. is the general contractor, and EoA, Inc. is the interior design firm for the development.
Photo: Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown rendering
