Perkins+Will is expanding its hospitality reach with three new high-profile projects. 

 Recently, construction has begun on the 67-story Kempinski Hotel and Residences in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which is set to open in 2015. Dubbed SailTower, the design is a slender rectangle, situated perpendicular to the shoreline in order to optimize solar exposure and maximize views of the water. The building’s exterior is a unique system of synthetic fabric “architectural sails” that shade the interior spaces, protect balconies from the wind, maintain privacy, and house LED lights that create a distinctive pattern over the entire surface of the building. 

The firm’s Dubai office was recently awarded the design for the 5-Star, 430,500-square-foot Courtyard Diplomatic Quarter hotel located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The design for the low-rise hotel reflects the country’s natural environment and local culture. 

“Our team drew inspiration from local materials, the environment, and the culture to create a hotel that is faithful to the region,” says Ben Piper, Perkins+Will’s director of architecture. “Just as the city is nourished by nearby Wadi Hanifa, the heart of the development, with its oasis motif, feeds the interior spaces throughout the building, with nature permeating every aspect of the design from the choice of color palette to regional heritage accents and environmental considerations.” 

Perkins+Will’s São Paulo office also recently won the hotel contract for the Kallas Hotel Porto Maravilha in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Design director Luiz Fernando Rocco will lead the design of the hotel, which captures the spirit of Rio de Janeiro and is comprised of 225 rooms. The project features various amenities including shops, a fitness center and pool, meeting rooms, and a destination restaurant.
