Dallas-based design firm Looney Associates is set to unveil the Central Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton in Memphis next month. The 123-room property will open at the site of the Central Station, a former landmark constructed in 1914, which used to serve as a transportation hub.
“Central Station has more design layers than hotel guests typically encounter—especially through music and art sourced from cities along the rail line from New Orleans to Chicago,” says Looney Associates president Jim Looney.
The lobby will pay homage to the rich music history of the city with a wall of speakers and check-in desks crafted to mirror 1960s-era stereo consoles. The onsite two-story bar, 8 & Sand will feature a central DJ booth fashioned from a repurposed church organ, while an expansive vinyl collection will function as the key focal point. The musical culture of Memphis will be further emphasized with the custom speakers installed in each guestroom, where handcrafted knobs on the desks will prompt them to amplify a daily playlist.
In the second life of the property, elements from the original design will still be kept, and accentuated alongside authentic artistic collaborations infusing the ethos of the Grind City. With an interior design adorned with neutral tones along with notes of rich blue and cinnamon, the space will be illuminated by original double-hung windows beneath the 12-foot ceilings. Custom wallcoverings and carpets will also depict the patterns of the original structure of the building, while the burnished metals contribute creating subtle visual impacts.
