Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc has recently finalized plans to build a new 118-room hotel in the heart of Old Town, Albuquerque, N.M. The project which plans to break ground by late, has an estimated completion date in spring, 2016.
The contemporary boutique hotel will feature a contrast of ancient and modern elements to create a space that captures the legacy of New Mexico’s Native American culture and history in a modern and luxurious way.
“We’re creating a hotel where guests will experience the true culture of New Mexico in a way that has never been done before,” said Jim Long, CEO, Heritage Hotels & Resorts. “We are blending ancient building techniques from New Mexico Native Americans with modern amenities and designs from the best designers in the world to create a new hotel that will redefine and advance the architectural building style in our state.
The services, sacred architecture and accommodations this hotel will provide will embrace the native people’s spirituality, artistic sensibility and oneness with nature. ”
The new property will be built on five levels with guestrooms designed to extend outdoors onto gracious terraces showcasing views of the Sandia Mountains and the downtown skyline or overlooking the gardens and pool terrace below. The hotel, located adjacent to Hotel Albuquerque, will share Hotel Albuquerque’s pool, ballrooms and chapel.
The hotel will be the first New Mexico property planned by global design firm, Gensler, who drew inspiration from the Anasazi people and the indigenous ruins of Chaco Canyon.
“Heritage Hotels & Resorts presented a captivating conceptual vision as a catalyst for the design team,” said Adam Gumowski, Design Director at Gensler. “The result is a one-of-a-kind property that embraces the spirituality, sensibility and legacy of the indigenous ruins of Chaco Canyon, while simultaneously striving for a contemporary sophistication.”
Specific designs incorporated from the Native American cultures include building the hotel in solar alignment, as well as relying upon ancient masonry techniques, which have been incorporated into this project.
Like the designs of Chaco Canyon, this hotel will be constructed so the property’s solar orientation can make the most of the heat in the winter and the coolness in the summer. Guest rooms will be deeply recessed to allow for solar gain in winter but protect from the sun in summer. The hotel’s five floors will also be built in a traditional stacked pueblo style with the façade stepping back at the upper floors.
The entrance to the hotel will serve as a welcoming sanctuary, greeting guests with soothing sounds, flowing water and warming fires in winter.
Beyond the lobby–a two-story Kiva inspired space–local landscape architect, Mimi Burns, of Dekker Perich Sabatini has designed a landscape reflecting the randomness of raindrops touching the earth. She will also design tranquil gardens and landscaped opened areas.
Interiors of the hotel will done by Santa Fe based designer, Kris Lajeskie and will focus on a merger of ancestral knowledge with contemporary materials, furnishings and art. The color palette for the project will be the natural wool colors used by the master weavers of the Navajo reservation.
“Not since Fred Harvey has there been a visionary who has taken on with such vigour the creation and promotion of the ‘cultural hotel’ in the Southwest,” said Kris Lajeskie, principal of Kris Lajeskie Design. “Gensler did a brilliant job in their interpretation of Chacoan architecture, and my challenge was to create interior spaces that capture the essence of Mother Earth and the indigenous native culture. From the moment you enter, you will know you are in a very special place.”
Future plans for the hotel will include a signature restaurant featuring modern Native American cuisine, a luxurious spa, a rooftop restaurant and a rooftop wedding chapel. Hotel Albuquerque will be the owner of the new hotel, and managed by Heritage Hotels & Resorts. Hotel Albuquerque was acquired in 1999 by a group of local New Mexican families, led by Jim Long.
Giving Back
Each Heritage Hotel donates a percentage of its revenue to cultural causes.
Hotel Details
• 118 guestrooms; 10 suites
• Rooftop restaurant and lounge
• Rooftop event terrace
• Signature restaurant
• Outdoor pool and lounge experience
• Conference room facilities
• 6,000 square-foot spa
• 1,200 square-foot fitness facility
• 3,000 square feet of street-front retail
About Heritage Hotels & Resorts
Founded by Jim Long in 2005, Heritage Hotels & Resorts is a collection of culturally distinct hotels in New Mexico and is the largest independent hotel brand in New Mexico. Through their architecture, interior design, landscaping, cuisine, art, entertainment and music, Heritage Hotels & Resorts provides guests with a very rich, authentic, cultural experience.
Heritage Hotels & Resorts
www.hhandr.com/new-hotel
