STUDIO HBA COMPLETES $38 MILLION DESIGN RENOVATION OF COURTYARD SAN FRANCISCO UNION SQUARE

Historic Art Deco Building Pays Tribute to San Francisco Art Scene; Upscale, Urban Design Scheme is a Departure from Brand Standard

LOS ANGELES – (December X, 2015) — Studio HBA, a division of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) the world’s leading hospitality design firm, has completed a $38 million renovation that transformed the historically-registered 1929 Vantaggio building in San Francisco’s Union Square into the newly opened Courtyard San Francisco Union Square. The former hotel-turned-student housing space is now home to an upscale, yet relaxed property, with 17 stories and 166 guestrooms – 16 of which are newly added. Studio HBA created a contemporary look while maintaining the historical integrity of the building.

“We aimed to create a property with the look and feel of a luxury boutique hotel, but with the amenities and value of a Courtyard Marriott,” said David Dunphy, Principal at Studio HBA. “The hotel was originally built in 1929, so we had dramatic high ceilings and intricate art deco detailing typical of that time period as a starting point. Since then, the building has served other purposes so we essentially restored it to its former glory while adding modern touches and necessary technology that guests have come to expect within this urban neighborhood.”

Studio HBA aimed to create an energized and luxurious mood in the lobby using a color palate of smoky gray, bright cobalt, sapphire, chartreuse, and accents of reflective silver and gold. The front desk is accented by a custom glass art piece within an oversized ornate frame painted in bright gold and highlighted with hidden LED lighting. Reflective smoke glass, white dimensional wood, and Carrara marble are some of the elements we used in the reception desk spaces. Several six-foot, multi-tiered chandeliers comprised of glass spheres centered on high arched windows add drama to guests’ arrival at the hotel. Tall, subtly-patterned drapery in smoky gray will frame each of these windows to accentuate the height of the space. Intricate original plaster detailing on ceilings and walls in the lobby were restored and enhanced with gold accents. Eclectic artwork, indicative of the local artistic vibe, is featured in a gallery-style arrangement throughout the space.

The look changes to a moody, sexy vibe in the bistro, library and lounge spaces. The functionality of typical Courtyard Marriott elements such as media pods were completely reconceived as semi private seating areas with cantilevered wood ceiling elements and suspended decorative lighting, making them suitable for both work and dining functions. Light wells between the hotel and the adjacent building bring natural light deep into this space as well as to new guestrooms created in the basement below. Rich tobacco-colored leathers, polished rose gold and bronze accents, and solid wood table tops create a warm inviting space for relaxed dining.

In the guest corridor, Studio HBA enhanced existing building details with smoky gray door frames and bold black and silver. The original exposed ceilings were maintained to keep the dramatic height, and all utilities were updated and organized to create a more refined impression. The carpet has a watercolor feel, somewhat painterly in its rendering. For lighting, Studio HBA used an opulent and reflective starburst design with crystal globes.

Guestrooms contain subtle references to the San Francisco art scene, such as a bold splatter paint artwork above the bed and black and white graphic pillows on the sofa. A collection of grays and cobalt blue accent the room with ebony case goods, accessorized with stainless steel metal accents, continuing the modern feel. Lighting is unexpected and unique, featuring a stainless floor lamp with polished chrome shade, clear glass table lamps with a white silk shade, and a mercury globe desk lamp. A strikingly oversized full length mirror with beaded frame nestles next to the dresser to reflect the San Francisco skyline upon entry into the room. The carpet is a soft gray with a subtle texture, to serve as a base canvas for the room. The bathroom has the look of a sleek jewel box, elegantly detailed with modern, linear gray tile on the walls and featuring a brightly-colored close up on the entire wall for dramatic effect. The fixtures and mirror are Art Deco in styling juxtaposed with the sleek white countertops and polished chrome vanity legs and base.

“We achieved the simple, modern, and elegant look we were aiming for while incorporating details from the building’s history,” said Dunphy. “It pays homage to its 1920s roots while bringing the hotel into the 21st century.”

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About Studio HBAStudio HBA is a division of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), the world’s leading hospitality design firm, and carries HBA’s DNA in its daily practice. Studio HBA specializes in servicing an international client base with smaller fee budgets and caters to local hoteliers and developers to deliver cutting-edge design solutions. The young, energetic, research-based design practice collaborates closely with clients and stakeholders to complete projects that meet exacting budget demands and brand requirements within limited timeframes. Studio HBA’s project resume includes hotels, resorts, private residences, show flats, restaurants, spas, clubs and corporate offices. The practice crafts a tailored approach to each project, enabling the firm to be a single-source hospitality provider with services including: interior design, architecture, art consultation, lighting design, graphic design, FF&E procurement, affording clients the opportunity to choose integrated comprehensive services or from an a la cart menu of disciplines.

Studio HBA’s notable completed projects include Courtyard San Francisco Union Square and Hilton Woodland Hills in Los Angeles. In 2016, Studio HBA’s Los Angeles office will unveil three local projects – Plaza la Reina in Los Angeles, Hampton Inn Santa Monica and Courtyard Marriott Santa Monica. http://www.studiohba.com/