Lawrence Group provided architecture, interior design, furniture procurement and landscape architecture on the project, which also included extensive interior renovations to the Hilton’s existing 18,100-square-foot, first floor public areas.

To create the unique hotel mash-up, Lawrence Group designers replaced the Hilton’s four-story wing with a new six-story, 128-bed Hampton Inn, which is designed to operate independently from the adjacent Hilton. The design, understood to be the first of its kind in the Midwest region, also enables Hampton Inn guests to utilize amenities within the renovated Hilton, such as its fitness center, business center and indoor pool.

“To accommodate hotel operations, the design team had to strategically connect the Hilton’s existing lower level to the new Hampton Inn lower level to share laundry and operational services,” said Lawrence Group Associate Principal of Hospitality Galen Vassar, NCIDQ, IIDA. “The new hotel’s first floor required coordination due to differing floor elevations to provide ADA accessibility to the hotel and its shared amenities.”

In addition to accessibility, the Lawrence Group design also provides improved site lines and natural lighting to accentuate the guest arrival experience in the Hilton hotel.

“We removed low height partitions towards the entrance to increase daylighting and visibility while a former elevated planter was replaced with functional upholstered banquette seating,” said Vassar. “We also used large format porcelain panels with variegated veining and medium stained walnut as consistent design materials that thread together the reception/lobby, restaurant/buffet, market and bar areas. Stained wood screen walls also provide visual appeal and functional separation between the public areas.”

Construction of the new Hampton had to be coordinated so that it did not disrupt operations of the existing Hilton, which provides an additional 397 rooms.