DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC-Crystal City Renovates Lobby

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC-Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia is adding the finishing touches to a multi-million dollar renovation, designed by DC-based architecture and design firm CORE. The hotel design team redesigned the hotel’s entry, two-story lobby, and bar to reflect the DoubleTree by Hilton’s emphasis on guest comfort and relaxation.

“When CORE was approached about renovating the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC -Crystal City, the hoteliers wanted the new design to be timeless, natural, and comfortable – all attributes of the new repositioned brand,” said Daniel Chapman, project interior designer, CORE, in an announcement. “The brand colors are brown and cream with a touch of natural green. The refined brand logo is the silhouette of a large tree with two trunks. So we made these colors dominant in the architecture of the space.”

The main architectural elements have a neutral palette to give the lobby a more timeless and classic back drop. The predominantly cream walls are accented with a subtle, sheen-patterned, chocolate-colored wall covering in special locations. Brown carpet is patterned with hues of golden wheat. The architectural millwork plays with contrasting shades of rift-cut, linear-grained hickory wood and more textured plain-cut ash that is stained dark brown.

Cream, honed limestone clads the walls in the lower lobby, main escalator and elevator corridors, but is accented with insets of travertine tile. Modern artwork and fabric upholstery add pops of color to the space. The floor tile color and layout, overhead light fixtures, and accent wall covering were all placed precisely to guide guests through the large, multi-level lobby.

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Part of the goal for the redesigned space was to create more areas where guests can socialize or relax more privately. For example, the main bar – which was previously surrounded by low walls – was opened up and became the focal point of the main lobby area. Along the main window wall, high-back lounge chairs and sectional couches are clustered between partial-height millwork ‘TV Pods’ which give guests a more private gathering area. An escalator and double-height stair atrium were filled in at the north lobby area to create more pre-function and conference space.

The original lobby had a traditional hotel check-in desk where the staff worked on one side, and guests stood on the other. However, the hotel wanted the associates to have more personal interaction with the guests – so the physical boundary between them was removed. CORE worked with the hotel team to create smaller, individual check-in desks and spaced them out across the footprint of the previous desk. Each desk contains a computer station sunken into the countertop – to conceal the technology and enhance the aesthetic – and custom millwork to handle paper management, key cards, and various other supplies and amenity items.

The renovation also included updates to the revolving lounge that sits atop the hotel, The Sky Dome Lounge.

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