Heritage Hotels & Resorts to Build Hotel in Old Town Albuquerque

. July 29, 2014

July 29, 2014 - Plans have been finalized for a new multi-million dollar hotel in the heart of Old Town, Albuquerque, according to Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc. The 118-room project will break ground by late fall with completion set for spring, 2016. The hotel will provide 100 new jobs in Albuquerque. The contemporary boutique hotel will be a contrast of ancient and modern elements. The property will be built adjacent to Hotel Albuquerque and will share Hotel Albuquerque's pool, ballrooms and chapel. The hotel will be comprised of five levels with guestrooms designed to extend outdoors onto gracious terraces showcasing majestic views towards the Sandia Mountains and downtown skyline or the serene views overlooking the beautiful gardens and pool terrace below.

The goal is to create a hotel 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,” explains 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 hotel will be the first New Mexico property planned by legendary global design firm, Gensler, who drew inspiration from the Anasazi people and the indigenous ruins of Chaco Canyon. “The design creates an unprecedented architectural aesthetic for New Mexico and the greater Southwest region,” said Adam Gumowski, Design Director at Gensler. “Heritage Hotels & Resorts presented a captivating conceptual vision as a catalyst for the design team. 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 that have been incorporated from the Native American cultures include building the hotel in solar alignment. Ancient masonry techniques 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 be designed as a welcome sanctuary greeting guests with soothing sounds, flowing water and warming fires in winter before arriving to the main lobby that will offer a two-story Kiva inspired space. Beyond the lobby 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 vigor, the creation and promotion of the “cultural hotel” in the Southwest,” states Kris Lajeskie, principal of Kris Lajeskie Design. “Jim Long is on a mission to share with the world the uniqueness of New Mexico. The creation of this new hotel will go a long way towards that end. Jim challenged the design team to create a new vernacular in Southwest architecture and there is no question we succeeded. 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.

Additional Facts about the Hotel:

Size:
120,000 square feet

Capacity:
• 118 guestrooms, including 10 luxurious suites
• Rooftop event terrace to accommodate up to 250 people
• Conference room facilities to accommodate up to 100 people
• Signature restaurant to accommodate 150 people
• Rooftop restaurant and lounge to accommodate up to 250 people
• 6,000 square-foot spa
• 1,200 square-foot fitness facility
• 3,000 square-feet of street-front retail
• Outdoor pool and lounge experience

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. Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town and Nativo Lodge are located in Albuquerque, NM; Hotel St. Francis, Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe and The Lodge at Santa Fe are located in Santa Fe, NM; Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces is located in Las Cruces, NM; and Palacio de Marquesa is located in Taos, NM. Each Heritage Hotel donates a percentage of its revenue to cultural causes. The company and its affiliate companies provide over 1,500 jobs in NM. You can find Heritage on Twitter at @HeritageHtls or on Facebook at Facebook.com/HeritageHotelsandResorts or at www.hhandr.com

About Gensler

Gensler is a global design firm grounded in the belief that great design optimizes business performance and human potential. Our 4,000 practitioners networked across 46 offices use global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. Whether we are refreshing a retailer's brand, planning a new urban district or designing a super tall building, we strive to make the everyday places people occupy more inspiring, more resilient, and with more impact.

Projects of Note: Gensler is redefining Shanghai's skyline with the Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building; challenging the conventional office with our workplace research; reshaping the future of retail; and envisioning a better urban future with our Reimagining Cities initiative.

Recent accolades: #1 Most Admired Firm in 2014 by Building Design and one of the Top 5 Most Admired 'Global Firms' by Interior Design in 2014; 'World's Biggest Architect' on Building Design's World Architecture 100 in 2014 and 2013; AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture in 2014 and 2012; and for the 33rd consecutive year, Gensler tops Interior Design's Top 100 Giants list.

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