Boutique Design - December 2018 - 22

2 0 18 G O L D K E Y AWA R D S

BEST ECO-CONSCIOUS OR SOCIALLY-CONSCIOUS HOTEL
FINALIST

HOTEL GRINNELL
IOWA

DESIGN FIRM: Perkins+Will, Boston
THE COMMISSION: Transform a junior

high school dating to 1921 into a 45-key
hotel and event center. Bring a boutique
product to a place where only budgetflagged properties had existed and stimulate
the local economy. Re-energize a building
that had sat vacant for nearly 40 years and
was in desperate need of some TLC.
THE CHARRETTE: Paying homage to the
building's scholastic past was paramount.
In the check-in area, the signature Hotel
Grinnell "G," reminiscent of the letters
produced by Underwood typewriters
during the school's early years, sets the
tone. Taking a cue from the lab tables once
used in science classes, kitchen-height
work stations topped by thick wood and
supported by iron legs allow travelers to sit
or stand in their guestrooms.

THE CHALLENGE: Bringing the property
back to its former glory while creating a functional hotel was no easy feat. Classrooms had
to be converted to guestrooms. Their 1920s
hardwood floors had to be restored. Drop ceilings with acoustic tile were removed and original ceiling heights and window configurations
were reinstated. Former public restrooms got
a new life as the hotel's bar, which features the
gym's 50-plus-year-old scoreboard. Even the
corridors were adjusted to their original width.
THE COOL STUFF: It's all about customiza-

tion. Brass light fixtures complement the iron
furniture designed and manufactured just
15 miles south of the city. Old lockers were
repurposed as end-of-bed benches. Beyond
that, no art piece repeats in the entire hotel.
THE CARRY-OUT: Supporting the community by preserving its past pays off. Project
participants say Hotel Grinnell is the most
significant contribution to the city's 18-hour
vitality and small economy in more than 50
years. It even received Iowa's Impact Award
for inspiring community growth.

SOURCES
OWNER: Grinnell Center LLC, Grinnell, Iowa; OPERATOR: Hotel Grinnell, Iowa; DESIGN
FIRM: Perkins+Will, Boston: Jacqueline McGee, designer (now with Ealain Studios,
Portland, Maine); ARCHITECT: ID8, Des Moines, Iowa; DEVELOPER/PURCHASING
COMPANY: Catalyst Development, Grinnell, Iowa; GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Bushong
Construction, Montezuma, Iowa; DESIGN CONSULTANT: Christensen Development,
Des Moines, Iowa (product development); ART & ACCESSORIES: Art.Com; Beckman
Gallery; The Container Store; AUDIO/VISUAL & ELECTRONICS: B3 Computers; DB Pro;
BATH & SPA: Delta; FABRICS: By Design; FLOORCOVERINGS: Modern Floor Covering;
FURNITURE: By Design; Co-Line Manufacturing; Fairmont; LIGHTING: Spectrum
Lighting; LINENS & TOWELS: Parachute; SIGNAGE: ASI Signage; SURFACING
MATERIALS: The Stone Shop; WALLCOVERINGS: Sherwin Williams; WINDOW
TREATMENTS: Heartland Window Treatments

THE ASSEMBLAGE JOHN STREET
NEW YORK

DESIGN FIRM: Meyer Davis, New York
THE COMMISSION: Imbue a sense of

collective consciousness, wellbeing and
harmony. Create a coworking and coliving
experience that fuels collaboration in New
York's Financial District.

SOURCES
OWNER: Prodigy Network, New York; Shorewood Real Estate Group, New York;
OPERATOR: Kokua Hospitality, San Francisco, California; DESIGN FIRMS:
Meyer Davis, New York: Will Meyer and Gray Davis, cofounders; Elizabeth Curry,
studio director; Rebecca Hernandez, lead designer; Amanda Tomlinson, project
manager; The Assemblage, New York: Magdalena Sartori, chief creative officer;
ARCHITECT: Mancini Duffy, New York; PURCHASING COMPANY: Carroll Adams,
Long Island City, New York; GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Collaborative Construction
Management; DESIGN CONSULTANT: Plant the Future (indoor plants/living art);
ARCHITECTURAL MATERIALS: Meyer Davis; ART CURATION: The Assemblage;
ACCESSORIES: MDLX (a unit of Mancini Duffy); AUDIO/VISUAL & ELECTRONICS:
AV Design; BATH & SPA: Casa Posta; Dr. Bronner's Bath Amenities; FABRICS:
Opuzen; Holly Hunt; Brentano; Ultrafabrics; Osborne & Little; KnollTextiles;
Maharam; Moore & Giles; Pollack; FLOORCOVERINGS: Stone Source; EGE;
Porcelanosa; FURNITURE: Design Within Reach; Coast to Coast; Munrod Upholstery;
Saint-Damase; Royal Custom Designs; Stellar Works; Mark Jupiter; Andtradition;
Muuto; Knoll; Verpan; Tom Dixon; LIGHTING: Juniper; Allied Maker; Lambert et Fils;
Blu Dot; Tom Dixon; Rich Brilliant Willing; MILLWORK: Cider Press; Lucos Group;
SIGNAGE: Crown Sign Systems; SURFACING MATERIALS: Interlam; Benjamin
Moore; Stone Resource; Crosby Street; WALLCOVERINGS: Phillip Jeffries;
Koroseal; Calico; Sofia Willemoes; WINDOW TREATMENTS: Design 27

22

boutiquedesign.com DECEMBER 2018

THE CHARRETTE: Coworking spaces and

79 extended-stay "apartments" reflect the
property's core commitment to biophilia, the
hypothesis that suggests there's an instinctive bond between human beings and other
living systems. A live moss-coated tunnel
entry serves as a transitional space from the
bustling city to the serenity of The Assemblage. Hotel rooms and coworking areas are
also decorated with lush, live greenery to
increase oxygen.
THE COOL STUFF: A custom gamelatron
gong by Brooklyn-based artist Aaron Taylor

Kuffner at the property's entry amps up the
visual impact. Colorful tapestries, beaded
figurines and woven cushions created by
the Amazon's native Shipibo tribe add a
bespoke touch throughout the building, while
impactful artwork sourced from Peru inspires
guests in the accommodations.
THE CARRY-OUT: Hybrid concepts have
staying power. Marking the brand's second
opening, the 15-story John Street location
includes six coworking floors designed to
prompt member collaboration and productivity. Communal tables and open seating
lend themselves to serendipitous encounters, while private offices offer exclusive intimacy for those of a certain membership level.
Other unique elements, such as a dedicated
yoga room, the Tea Ceremony Room, meditation rooms, a spacious outdoor rooftop and
terraces, and a galactic room used for sound
meditation, reinforce the holistic experience.

K R U G E R I M AG E S ( H O T E L G R I N N E L L ) ; M I K I KO K I K U YA M A ( T H E A S S E M B L AG E J O H N S T R E E T )

FINALIST
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Boutique Design - December 2018

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