Convention Center Corner Gets a MakeoverThe original plans for the Hawai‘i Convention Center included four potential hotel sites - none were built. With Waikı̄kı̄’s world-class hotels over 1.5 miles away, Honolulu and its conventioneers have been waiting 20 years for a hotel adjacent to the urban convention center. Thanks to the visionary group at Salem Partners, the wait is finally over.

Mana‘olana Place will be an iconic mixed-use luxury hotel and condominium tower across from the convention center on the corner of Kapi‘olani Boulevard and Atkinson Drive. The 36-story development is slated for completion in 2021 and will be operated by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, owner and operator of some of the world’s most luxurious and exclusive hotels, resorts, and residences.

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“We are proud to bring the award-winning Mandarin Oriental brand to Honolulu,” said James Ratkovich, Managing Director at Salem Partners. “Mandarin Oriental, Honolulu will set a new standard for luxury service in the islands and will offer a preferred choice to travelers and potential homeowners who desire the finest accommodations,” he added. AHL will serve as the Executive Architect for the project, lending our high-rise, hospitality, and strategic expertise to shepherd this first TOD project in the Ala Moana district to completion. Colorado-based [au]workshop is the design architect on the project along with Dianna Wong Architects + Interior Design and Hart Howerton Landscape Architects.

“Salem Partners and Mandarin Oriental are doing something new in Hawai‘i, combining the highest level of hotel and residential luxury in Honolulu’s high-rise urban setting. These large, complex projects really suit AHL because we can leverage our high-rise and hotel expertise on transformative projects that positively impact our community. We look forward to successful completion of Mana‘olana Place with Salem Partners and the design team,” said Lisa Rapp, AIA, LEED AP, AHL Principal.

Within a half mile of the Ala Moana rail station, Mana‘olana Place is the first approved project in Honolulu’s new Ala Moana transit hub. Pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and activated street level storefronts culminate in a landscaped public plaza at the corner of Kapi‘olani Boulevard and Atkinson Drive. This catalytic development will revitalize the neighborhood and replace the dilapidated existing low-rise structures that draw undesirable activity at night.

Mana‘olana Place will include two floors of retail and restaurant space, 125 hotel guestrooms and suites, 96 residential condominiums, a spa and fitness center, banquet facilities, and a recreation deck at the tower podium with pools and other hotel/residential amenities. Salem Partners is a Los Angeles-based investment bank and wealth management firm. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group operates 29 hotels and eight residences in 19 countries and territories.

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Perspectives Re-think, Re-fresh, Re-connect

Bits+Pieces

Honoring Frank Haines New HiresWhat is something that people don’t know about you?

Hawai‘i recently made the top 10 crane list (Rider Levett Bucknall) coming in 10th in the country with a dozen cranes. That’s evidence of a wealth of new construction, but that trend doesn’t reveal the surge in renovation projects. One of the driving forces for renovation is the change in development rules regarding zoning, density, and height, which can prohibit rebuilding on the original footprint. Another is the ongoing consumer clamor for new, stimulating, and distinct.

We are saddened at the death of our former president and chairman, Frank Haines, who passed away on August 10th at the age of 96. He was an architectural icon who left an indelible legacy at AHL. His work includes renowned buildings in Honolulu such as the Prince Kuhio Federal Building and Hawai‘i State Capitol.

He was an active member of the board and took

personal interest in our staff and projects. He loved

this community and was an enthusiastic advocate

for Hawai‘i’s architecture and led the popular

architectural walking tours well into his 90’s. He will

be sorely missed.

Nathan G. Saint Clare AIA, Senior Associate

, Rendering of Lau Hala Shops in Kailua, HI. This project will provide a mix of retail and restaurants on the old Macy’s site.

Intersections Between Art + Design + Architecture Thank you to those who attended our second Art + Design + Architecture panel on Environment & Ecology at The Surfjack. Moderated by Bettina Mehnert (pictured in middle), the panel’s guest speakers (from left to right) included artist Charlton Kupa‘a Hee, Brad Kurokawa from Ki Concepts, Jamie Makasobe from Kealopiko, and Sean O’Harrow from Honolulu Museum of Art. Our upcoming panel on Hospitality + Tourism will be on November 15 at The Surfjack. Email marketing@ahl.design for more information.

Summer Picnic AHL held its annual summer picnic on July 22.

Symphony HonoluluCongratulations to our client, OliverMcMillan and team members for the following achievements.

• Symphony Honolulu is the recipient of an Honorable Mention award in the residential category for the 2017 AIA Honolulu Design Awards.• Symphony Honolulu is the first 400-ft. high-rise in Hawai‘i to receive LEED certification.

#JoinTheMovementAHL held various company-wide fundraising campaigns this summer for Aloha United Way. Our employees raised a total of $4,190.86 through a silent auction, bake sale, farmer’s market, and cooking competition. Cocktail Napkin Sketches

Crafted by our talented designers during a lunch time drawing session.

At AHL, we divide renovation by three: Re-think, Re-fresh and Re-connect. You could view re-thinking as a substitute for the overused, “out of the box thinking,” but the purpose is the same: say no to the status-quo!

We look at the existing structures and amenities and imagine how reconfiguring could increase revenue and room rates. For example, would the restroom structure by the swimming pool be more attractive and profitable as a bar and grill? Some property owners are expanding their boundaries with temporary structures, such as cabanas on the beach or lanais to drive additional revenue by providing a “new” amenity.

Re-fresh speaks for itself. As thoughtful designers, we encourage our clients to build timeless and elegant

s The late Frank Haines (seated on the right) and colleagues with a model of the Prince Kuhio Federal Building, one of the many architectural icons in Honolulu that Haines designed. Front Row: Cy Lemmon and Frank Haines. Back Row: Paul Jones, George Woo, Fred White, Rich Lowe, Alex Weinstein, Doug Freeth, and Joe Farrell.

Sona Kremitovska DesignerI’ve practiced karate for more than 12 years, represented Czech Republic internationally, and won multiple competitions.

Mina PasierbMarketing CoordinatorI am a YouTube vlogger, home pastry chef, and am currently taking up an interior design course.

Abby WiscoPayroll AccountantI’ve hiked Ulm Minster Cathedral, the tallest church in the world.

structures, understanding that consumer behavior is stimulated by trends. With good “bones” it’s easier to give guests or residents a series of fresh and unexpected interiors with new furniture, finishes, lighting, and art work.

In an increasingly homogenized world, where every city looks like the next, the meaning behind the design becomes crucial. Re-connecting people to the natural environment, experiencing the culture of a place, and understanding where we are in history and on the globe, makes the difference between boring and memorable. This philosophy directs our design decisions, delivering a cohesive and compelling story that can be retold and become the most desirable form of marketing: word of mouth.

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Making a Case for Resiliency

Houston, Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico. The lives of countless people in these regions will be changed forever. Just recently, Hawai‘i looked back to Hurricane Iniki, which brought more than 145 miles-per-hour winds to Kaua‘i and O‘ahu’s Wai‘anae Coast 25 years ago. As a state, we know first hand how long and how costly it is to regroup and rebuild.

Can we ever adequately protect ourselves? From an architectural perspective, we’ve certainly come a long way to realizing that goal. Resiliency, “the intentional design of buildings, landscapes, communities, and regions in response to vulnerabilities to disaster and disruption of normal life” is now a part of every discussion and plan when a new building is designed. Honolulu is also fortunate to be part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities project, dedicated to helping cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century.

In Hawai‘i we are vulnerable to hurricanes, tsunamis, rainfall flooding, and rising sea levels. Being isolated as we are in the Pacific Ocean means that critical urban infrastructure is completely independent – we cannot rely on neighboring grids for support. We are dependent on our sea and airports for imports of food, fuel, and other commodities, and dependent on our main economic engine, tourism.

I can’t think of better reasons for all of us to commit in spirit and action to our state’s – and the United Nation’s – sustainability goals. We will, in all likelihood, never be able to control the events of nature, but we can work to keep the storms from getting stronger, lessen the impact when they do occur, and work together continually to ensure a future that supports environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and community resilience.

Bettina Mehnert

FAIA, LEED AP President, Chief Executive Officer

CEO

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We are happy, proud, and grateful for our client

OliverMcMillan to note that Symphony Honolulu

was recently awarded a historic LEED certification

as the first new 400-foot tall high rise to achieve

LEED certification in the state.

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