WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the debut of the Aloft brand’s first adaptive re-use project in the heart of downtown Dallas. The Aloft Dallas Downtown opens in a historic railroad freight depot, now transformed into a destination complete with 193 spacious, loft-like rooms, accessible technology and a hip, social atmosphere.
Aloft Dallas Downtown occupies an eight-story antique gem built in 1924 as a Santa Fe Railroad freight terminal and commercial dry goods warehouse. Evoking an era when train tracks formed the arteries of the commercial district, the sleek, new hotel delivers the Aloft brand’s signature, urban-influenced design elements, while incorporating the building’s distinct, structural attributes including original buff brick, large windows, structural pillars and high ceilings. Blending seamlessly into its loft-like, historic setting, this singular, contemporary hotel is owned by a joint venture between Hamilton Properties Corp. and Sava Holdings, Ltd., both Dallas-based development companies.
“In today’s challenging economic environment, adaptive re-use projects like the Aloft Dallas Downtown can offer developers significant advantages and provide great benefits to communities in search of urban renewal opportunities,” said Simon Turner, president of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Through the redevelopment of historic or older structures, developers can gain access to prime real estate to create an innovative and historically meaningful hotel, while benefiting from unique zoning opportunities and public subsidies. We see great opportunities to use this approach in many cities throughout the world.”
Now More Than 30 Hotels
Aloft Hotels debuted its first property in Montreal in June 2008. Fueled by the popularity of its prototype hotel, Aloft has since opened 30 more hotels in three countries. While the Aloft prototype continues to generate strong enthusiasm among owners, developers and hotel guests, Starwood plans to further the brand’s footprint through adaptive, re-use projects like Aloft Dallas Downtown.
“While all of Starwood’s nine lifestyle brands are candidates for adaptive re-use projects, Aloft is particularly well-suited based on its urban design aesthetic and appeal to savvy travelers,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “In this case, an 85-year-old railroad depot was successfully transfigured into a modern, hip hotel by incorporating the loft-like design scheme, high ceilings, open floor plans and large windows that are characteristic of Aloft.”
Project Took Three Years
The transformation of the original train depot into Aloft Dallas Downtown was completed over a three-year period under the direction of the architecture and design team at One Group Design, LP.
“The designer did a fabulous job marrying the old building with the new,” said general manager Al Hunter. “We essentially dropped a new, ultra-modern building inside the bones of a warehouse that is on the historic register. This concept preserves the history of Dallas and showcases all the Aloft brand’s modern amenities.”
Aloft Dallas Downtown is pursuing LEED certification—an internationally recognized, third-party certification for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The hotel features natural materials like cork and sustainable wood veneers, and in-shower product dispensers replace non-biodegradable bottles to reduce landfill waste. In addition, nearly 75 percent of the demolition debris was reused below ground in the lower-level meeting and ballroom spaces.
Go to the Aloft Dallas Downtown.
