Modern Meets Classic
Repurposing historic structures takes a delicate hand, and this property is no exception. The design team approached the project with a gentle touch, causing minimal impact to existing features and careful not to penetrate the existing structure. We essentially stripped the interior spaces down to the bones, peeling away remnants of the 1984 office center only to find limited salvageable interior character that remained.
To ensure every square inch was restored in accordance with historic requirements, the team searched historic imagery and files, working in tandem to meticulously rebuild historic features, such as original terra-cotta floor tiles, hardwood floors, mosaics, a winding marble staircase, terraces overlooking Omaha from the structure’s eighth floor and the grand ballroom with vaulted ceilings. These materials are well documented through historical accounts, including coverage of Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign launch from the grand ballroom in 1967. Other unseen improvements that have a significant impact on the guest and staff experience include quiet, modern heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and technology systems woven seamlessly into the 105-year-old structure.
To accommodate additional space needed to modernize the property, the main historic tower is joined to a newly constructed 3-story annex that houses 42 guestrooms and conference and event space. After opening in November 2020, the 112,900-square- foot Cottonwood Hotel currently operates as a full-service, upper-upscale hotel with 204 guestrooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, a lounge, ballroom and meeting spaces featuring two outdoor terraces, a fitness center and business center. Continuity of design provides guests with a seamless transition between old and new, offering them a sense of luxury no matter where they are within the hotel.
The Cottonwood Hotel is a boutique hotel with European flare. It’s a modern twist on historic luxury. Visitors enter the property and, for a moment, travel back in time to the 1920s—the era when the storyline of this notable hotel was first scripted. Guests pick up on subtle cues that pay homage to the original Blackstone Hotel and, as they continue their journey through the hotel, they uncover modern amenities, fixtures, furnishings and features designed to create a nostalgic experience that elegantly meets the demands of today’s travelers.
PHOTOS: ©Kimpton/Dana Damewood, courtesy of DLR Group
Retrofit Team
BRAND: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
OWNERS: Partnership by local Blackstone District developers Clarity Development and GreenSlate Management
OPERATOR: Pivot Lifestyle Hotels, a division of Davidson Hospitality Group
ARCHITECT OF RECORD, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES: LEO A DALY
INTERIOR DESIGN AND EXPERIENCE PROGRAMMING: DLR Group
LIGHTING DESIGNER: LS Group
CONTRACTOR: Lueder Construction
ARTWORK CURATION: Watie White and Soho Myriad
GREENSCAPE DESIGNER: Mulhall’s
Materials
HEADBOARD: Valley Forge Fabrics
WALL TILE: Ceramic Technics
BATH ACCESSORIES: Paradigm Trends
RUGS: Jamie Stern
CORRIDOR CARPET: Desso Carpet
PUBLIC AREA CARPET: Royal Thai
GUESTROOM CARPET: Mohawk Group
FABRICS: Architex, Brentano, Integra Fabrics, JF Fabrics, Kravet and Opuzen
CASEGOODS AND FURNITURE IN GUESTROOMS: Bryan Ashley
CASEGOODS AND FURNITURE IN PUBLIC AREA: Mandi Li
OUTDOOR FURNITURE: Summer Classics
CHAIRS: Bryan Ashley
DRAPERY: CDI
TABLES: Industry West
SEATING: Industry West, Marquis and Palecek
MIRRORS: Best Art and Mirror
LIGHTING: Arteriors, HB Lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting and Viso Lighting
WALLCOVERINGS: Astek, Koroseal and MDC