The Edgewater hotel has opened following an extensive $100 million restoration and expansion. The revitalization of the 202-room hotel is the vision of Robert Dunn, local resident as well as developer and owner of the lakefront property.
“The people of Madison have long awaited the return of the Edgewater,” says Dunn. “We want the renovated and expanded property to return to its original purpose. The Edgewater serves as a civic place of importance for the community, a place that our future generations of locals and visiting guests can enjoy.”
The Edgewater first opened in the 1940s and was a hotspot for celebrities from Sammy Davis Jr. and Elvis Presley to Bob Marley and Elton John. Elkus Manfredi Architects worked to preserve and enhance the hotel’s famous history and Art Deco architecture. While the exterior of the original property’s two buildings were preserved, the interior features new contemporary décor and modern technology suited for the luxury traveler.
New additions include the Wisconsin Building hotel tower, two ballrooms, multiple indoor and outdoor event spaces, several dining options, a spa, and a one-acre public plaza. The three buildings offer 202 guestrooms, two presidential suites, and 10 studios with kitchenettes. On the 12th floor of the Wisconsin Building, the two suites have radial glass walls with panoramic views of Lake Mendota. Each suite offers a dining room, living room, bedroom, travertine tile, and marble bathroom with a walk-in shower and soaking tub.