BURLINGTON, VERMONT—Ground was broken for a LEED-eligible hotel as local developers Jay Canning and Chuck DesLauriers announced the commencement of construction on the new 125-bedroom Hotel Vermont and Hen of the Wood Restaurant in Burlington. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and Commerce Secretary Lawrence Miller attended to commemorate the occasion on September 21, 2011.
The new Hotel Vermont will open at in Burlington 100 years after the original Hotel Vermont first welcomed guests. The property will be locally developed, owned and operated with design, construction and management teams all Burlington-based. NBT Bank and the US Department of Agriculture collaborated to enable financing of the project.
The family of developer DesLauriers has owned and operated lodging and hospitality businesses in Vermont since the 1950s. Co-developer Jay Canning said, “As locals with many years of hotel experience, we have worked to create a uniquely Vermont lodging experience in our hometown. Hotel Vermont will be the city of Burlington’s own.”
Israel Smith of Smith Buckley Architects in Burlington teamed with Kim Deetjen of TruexCullins Interiors to utilize unusual design features throughout the hotel, such as hardwood floors and luxury shower and bath areas in guestrooms. Green design practices and indigenous materials have also been a focus, with the development team expecting LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the project. PC Construction of Burlington, Vermont was selected as the general contractor.
Reclaimed Antique Red Oak Flooring Used
Hotel Vermont is designed to serve the lifestyle needs and stimulate the senses of moderate and upscale leisure and business travelers seeking a unique and authentic “Vermont” experience that exudes comfort and casual warmth while encouraging productivity. Public spaces indoors and out will be similarly comfortable and complemented by thoughtful food and beverage offerings throughout the day. The hotel lobby features a wood-burning hearth, a granite-clad central core area, and materials including reclaimed antique red oak flooring.
Juniper Lounge will serve morning pastries and coffee as well as farm-inspired “carbon-negative” cocktails (using ingredients that help balance the hotel’s carbon footprint), limited-production beer and wine and small plates as the day progresses. Off the bar, an outdoor terrace with an open hearth will overlook the Burlington waterfront and the 7,500-square-foot Harbor Terrace, Burlington’s first green roof and garden, which Canning and DesLauriers opened atop a city parking garage in 2007. Bronze sculptures on the rooftop by artist Richard Erdman of Williston, Vermont assure an eye-catching view, whatever the season. The hotel will also offer two water-view function rooms with 1,100 square feet of space for meetings and events space combined.
Hotel Vermont will be the Burlington home of one of Vermont’s favorite restaurants, Hen of the Wood Restaurant, featuring the acclaimed farm-to-table cuisine and intuitive service standards of 2011 James Beard Award nominee chef Eric Warnstedt.
The hotel and restaurant will bring 70 new jobs to Burlington, Vermont and both are scheduled to open their doors and begin welcoming guests in April 2013.
