Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has revealed plans to open its first university hotel at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, Virginia. Slated to debut in spring 2023, the on-campus boutique property will feature 199 rooms and a design by Kimpton’s in-house team in partnership with Cooper Carry, Looney & Associates, and Beleco that aligns with the local Jeffersonian vernacular.
“The culture of community and diversity at Darden greatly inspired the design for this new property,” says Diana Martinez, senior design director for the Kimpton design team. “Similar to Kimpton’s ethos, we are all striving to create a space that fosters transformational experiences through connection to local people and places. We also felt it very important to honor the rich history of the school through subtle heritage cues and embellishing classical elements with a modern edge.”
A natural complement to the heritage aesthetic of the campus, the forthcoming hotel will reinterpret classical elements through a modern lens. The project will also promote wellness and contemplation through amenities, including expansive gardens, and details like a soothing interior color palette boasting navy hues. Traditional chevron patterns will span the hotel along with warm, organic notes of natural oak accented by light silhouettes. Totaling more than 6,000 square feet, a 425-person ballroom will serve as the highlight of the hotel’s 11,500 square feet of meeting and event space as well.
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