Puerto Rico's Condado Plaza Gets Redesign
JAN JUAN, PR, May 14, 2008. Puerto Rico's beloved Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino is undergoing a multi-million dollar contemporary redesign with an intensive refurbishment of all 570 rooms, meeting and public spaces, and an impressive new lobby. Leo A. Daly conceived the reinterpretation of all guestrooms and meeting space including the Royal Ballroom. Internationally acclaimed architect and designer David Rockwell with Rockwell Group is behind the glamorous lobby and outpost of the renowned New York City steakhouse, Strip House, which opened its doors December 2007. The sleek, new design of the hotel makes it the ideal urban resort destination for business or leisure travel while still capturing the dynamic energy of the island of Puerto Rico.
Leo A. Daly led the redesign of the Laguna and Ocean Wing accommodations. Boasting the largest guest suites in Puerto Rico and offering both short-term and extended-stay, guests will enjoy functional spaces with state-of-the-art technology, modern amenities and splashes of tropical color suitable for both activity and rest. The Ocean Wing rooms are complete with vibrant colors and sleek furnishings to create an atmosphere that is comfortable and chic. The hot color palette of orange, red and pink contrasts tranquilly with the pristine white linens, marble desktops and white tile floors. A dramatic platform bed serves as a focal point of the room with specialty millwork and unique lighting towers, while the expansive windows are framed in dark mahogany to emphasize the spectacular panoramic views. Each guest bathroom is designed to serve as an elegant spa-like retreat. Textured porcelain tile walls and floors are coupled with modern, minimalist finishes in marble and mahogany, brushed with nickel accents.
The rooms in the Laguna Wing create a cooler atmosphere with a more serene and residential feel. The color scheme is fresh and sophisticated, with oceanic aquas, citrus greens and crisp white generating a calming respite. The rich mahogany, polished nickel and white marble finishes add an element of depth and richness. Modern features such as a translucent wall between the sleeping area and shower and a glass panel door separating the bedroom from the entry and optional sitting room adds touches of playfulness and fun to the tranquil setting.
The extraordinary transformation continues with a much-needed Royal Ballroom reconstruction merging lavish comfort with modern technology. In this comprehensive redesign, eminent interior designer Leo A. Daly unleashes his sophisticated vision to revitalize the Condado area of San Juan for local residents as well as leisure and business travelers. Leo Daly's inspiration for the Royal Ballroom's new look was the hotel's historic location, Condado. With his vision, the Royal Ballroom captures the history and architecture of San Juan's dynamic culture with the benefits of modern technology and functionality.
The Royal Ballroom at Condado Plaza is unique not only for its remarkable design, but also for offering guests and event patrons spectacular day and night views of the nearby waters and providing access to natural daylight through floor-to-ceiling windows. The 8,090-square-foot ballroom's two-tiered design, stunning stage and creative finishes combine to create the feel of a classic 1950's dinner club, but also reflect contemporary Puerto Rico with fresh, clean lines and vibrant colors.
The Royal Ballroom's custom-designed European three-tiered chandelier and one-of-a-kind furnishings add further aesthetic appeal for business travelers and meeting planners looking for more than an average event space. The room's stunning light fixture is composed of floating rings surrounded with contemporary glass beads, more resembling an eye-catching piece of jewelry than a chandelier.
Combined with the hotel's existing space, the Condado's event offerings include a total 18 individual conference rooms with two larger ballrooms, and 41,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space.
A significant enhancement is the 20,000-square-foot, multipurpose lobby renovation by New York architect and designer David Rockwell. His firm, Rockwell Group, is best known for their work on W New York, Nobu, Caf'e Gray, the upcoming Jet Blue Terminal at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Canyon Ranch Living in Miami. The award-winning, cross-disciplinary architecture and design practice is based in New York City, where Rockwell's 220-person firm specializes in cultural, hospitality, retail, theater, film and product design.
With the Condado Plaza lobby project, Rockwell sets a new standard in luxury design blending contemporary style with the traditional colors and patterns of San Juan's tropical, Latin culture. The white-lacquered walls and a neutral/sand-colored terrazzo floor provide a perfect backdrop to the vibrant colors of the large glass mosaic behind the enlarged reception desk illustrating the red, orange and yellow petals inspired by the frangipani, a native Puerto Rican hibiscus. The color palette of the Caribbean reef is continued in the coral and turquoise accents throughout the rest of the lobby, including the two bars and banquet hall. Wavy slats of wood create a ceiling canopy in the lobby; the lighting of which can be programmed to change color based on the mood or context. In the center of the terrazzo banquet hall floor is another large pattern of the frangipani flower.
Rockwell's inspiration was to transform the ground floor into a dynamic and flexible area that would encourage guests to drift in and out of the lounge and lobby, enjoying the bright, cheerful, colorful setting highlighted by the distinctive architecture and art of Old San Juan.
In December, the Glazier Group's popular Strip House, also designed by Rockwell Group, opened its doors. The new restaurant redefines the traditional steakhouse paradigm, with a saucy m'elange of sultry silks, velvets and leather and vintage photographs of burlesque stars from the original 1900's Studio Manasse collection adorning scarlet-red walls. The seductive atmosphere and innovative menu excite all the senses. Chef John Schenk's menu includes truffled cream spinach, goose fat potatoes and prime cuts of beef charred to perfection. The original Strip House, located in New York City, was also designed by Rockwell Group.
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