White Lodging Services Corporation, in partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has broken ground on the dual-branded Aloft and Element hotel development in Austin.
The 278-room Aloft Austin Downtown and 144-room Element Austin Downtown will comprise a 32-story complex that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017. Owned by White Lodging affiliate REI Real Estate and Poe Companies, the properties will be managed by White Lodging.
The complex will be nearby the city’s 6th Street Entertainment District, known for its live music venues, restaurants, and retail options; the Warehouse District; the Austin Convention Center; University of Texas’ Austin campus; and the Texas State Capitol Building.
Aloft Austin Downtown will offer loft-like accommodations with high ceilings and large windows, while the signature w xyz bar will host up-and-coming music acts. An open-air terrace on the second floor will also provide views of Congress Avenue.
Meanwhile, Element Austin Downtown will feature studios and one-bedroom suites with modular furniture, open shelving, spa-inspired bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. Guests will also have access to rental bikes.
Shared amenities will include a fitness center and more than 1,380 square feet of meeting and event space.
