The Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel in Arlington, VA, a project which Bohler helped bring to life, was recently recognized with an Award of Merit in Building Hospitality/Retail by NAIOP’s Northern Virginia chapter.
The 11-story hotel redevelopment opened earlier this year and sits on the same site as the former well-known Colony House furniture store. The store had occupied the site since 1957, but remained vacant since its closure in 2011. The Colony House was demolished in 2016 to make room for the new upscale, full-amenity Homewood Suites. The 168-room LEED Gold-Certified hotel features a high-end fitness center, two outdoor patios with fireplaces, 2,500 SF of flexible meeting space, and two levels of underground parking.
Project Highlights:
Effective Stormwater Management: In the event of a large storm, the aged existing storm system pipes could not effectively capture runoff, in part due to a low elevation on a portion of the site. To fix this problem, Bohler designed an upgraded detention system to hold back additional outfall, and utilized filters to treat the runoff entering the system.
An Advantageous Retaining Wall: Bohler solved a 53-foot drop in grade on the site with a retaining wall, which allowed for more above-ground parking, easing loading and unloading for guests, and more visibility of the project, which can easily be spotted from Interstate 66. This solution avoided decreasing the size of the hotel or designing further underground. The retaining wall also created space for a plaza at the hotel entrance.
Convenient Traffic Design: Bohler also altered the traffic design to allow for easier vehicular and pedestrian access to the hotel by removing the existing porkchop island and creating a T-stop, while adding three curb cuts and removing six.
According to the developer, the hotel was “designed specifically with the extended-stay guest in mind. The Homewood Suites will be… guests’ home away from home while in the DC region for business or for pleasure.” With its prominent location, the hotel provides convenient access to major attractions in both Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. by way of multiple transit options.
Questions about this Homewood Suites by Hilton project, or Bohler's hospitality design capabilities? Contact us today.