The Summit, a Dolce Hotel by Wyndham, has debuted in the Madisonville neighborhood of Cincinnati. An adaptive reuse of a former factory and medical research facility, the project was overseen by HBA, which transformed the structure into a nine-story, 239-room boutique concept anchored by collaborative spaces and extensive artwork.
“The brief called for a boutique, art-centric hotel with an emphasis on attracting meeting groups. Working with an art consultant, the hotel took on a creative and inspiring element we aimed to enhance and complement through our design. The art and the building’s history prompted a need for bold colors and patterns, with industrial undertones,” says Nicole Smith, an associate at HBA’s Atlanta office.
The environment honors the industrial roots of the original building, welcoming visitors with 20-foot-high ceilings in the lobby. Original, exposed sandblasted columns and a metal-clad staircase are featured as well, while flexible, modern seating is configured atop concrete floors. An artistic, metal screen reception desk showcases industrial factory parts and a large-scale modern abstract art piece to punctuate the interactive space. Linear light slots also wrap the ceiling and down the walls.
“Some of my favorite design inspirations were weaving industrial factory elements throughout the design of the hotel, seen in the feature staircase, furniture, lighting and artwork,” continues Smith. “We created angled vents in rainbow colors that surround the atrium, which hint towards the former painted columns of the garage, and integrated the existing columns into the public spaces and guest rooms.”
Library
A café concept is installed adjacent to the lobby atrium near meeting rooms and a communal table and fireplace. The back of the lobby is home to the library room, a private lounge designed for small group functions with unique artwork and vibrantly colored shelving. A relaxed design defines the onsite restaurant and bar, complete with warm woods and black iron delivering industrial accents.
Conceived to subtly reference the site’s medical history, guestrooms are each outfitted with DNA strand imagery depicted in headboards and seating along window walls. Custom, modern furniture is set against a backdrop of red accents, while bathrooms are each adorned with abstract watercolors of Cincinnati.
