BLTa Architects Completes Multi-million Dollar Enhancements to The Rittenhouse

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. November 11, 2013

November 11, 2013 - BLTa Architects (BLTa), a Philadelphia-based architectural and interior design firm, today announced that it has completed improvements to The Rittenhouse, including upgraded public areas, new guestrooms and suites, the Mary Cassatt Tea Room and the Library Bar.

BLTa was working on behalf of Hersha Hospitality Trust, which acquired an interest in the Center City Philadelphia property last year, including the hotel, 44,000 square feet of office and retail space and an adjacent 300-space parking garage. The Rittenhouse is an AAA Five Diamond hotel and features the popular Lacroix restaurant, an indoor pool, fitness center and 8,500 square feet of business and social space.

BLTa served as the project architect, while internationally renowned Champalimaud was the interior design firm. Champalimaud fashioned five third-floor “Park Suites” designed to be the end-all, be-all of hotel accommodations. Ranging from 450 to 1,330 square feet, the suites blend the hotel's classic style with a fresh look.

“The Rittenhouse is a Philadelphia landmark destination and one of the top hotels in the country,” said Eric M. Rahe, AIA, LEED AP, a principal at BLTa. "Our vision respects the history and classic aesthetic that The Rittenhouse is known for while upgrading specific spaces to ensure that it remains Philadelphia's hospitality crown jewel."

All of the hospitality Park Suites and many guestrooms overlook the prestigious Rittenhouse Square Park. The park's square design is the inspiration for the hotel's elegant insignia, underscoring the importance of Philadelphia's signature square. The lobby contains a reproduction of historic Fairmount Park, and the carefully crafted walls of the Boathouse bar honor the Schuylkill River boathouses with a faithful lighted replica.

Throughout the years, the luxury hotel has hosted actors including Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis as they filmed “Philadelphia,” “12 Monkeys” and other feature films around the city. Travel & Leisure ranked The Rittenhouse as #1 for Philadelphia and #26 for Top Large City Hotels in the Continental U.S. in 2012.

About BLTa Architects

BLTa Architects is an integrated architectural and interior design firm. Since its founding in 1961, BLTa has developed into a diverse and respected design firm headquartered in Philadelphia. We are honored and proud to have produced a diverse portfolio of hospitality, education, multi-family residential, mixed-use and retail, parking and intermodal projects. The richness of our work encompasses the rational and the cutting edge. It aspires to fulfill the core values of our mission. www.blta.com.

About The Rittenhouse

The Rittenhouse, a 116-room independent luxury hotel that has received the prestigious AAA Five Diamond award for more than 20 years, is a member of Leading Hotels of the World and considered Philadelphia's most distinguished address. Opened in 1989, The Rittenhouse is ideally situated on Philadelphia's famed Rittenhouse Square, within walking distance to the heart of the business district and premier shopping corridor. Additionally, the hotel affords easy access to the Philadelphia Convention Center and all of the City's numerous arts, cultural, dining and entertainment venues. www.RittenhouseHotel.com

About Hersha Hospitality Trust

Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality space, which owns and operates high quality upscale hotels in urban gateway markets. The Company's 48 hotels totaling 7,755 rooms are located in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Miami and select markets on the West Coast. The Company's shares are traded on The New York Stock Exchange-Euronext under the ticker “HT”. For more information on the Company, and the Company's hotel portfolio, please visit the Company's Web site at www.hersha.com.