Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 31
REFRESHER
COURSE
A trio of architecture and design firms artfully updates
Philadelphia's high-profile The Rittenhouse.
BY JENNY S. REISING
WHEN THE 116-KEY The Rittenhouse opened its
doors in 1989, it quickly became one of Philadelphia's premier luxury hotels. Located next to
historic Rittenhouse Square-downtown Philly's
beaux arts-style green space-the hotel was angled
to afford generous views to the park and attracted
an upscale crowd with its spa, tea room and reputation for impeccable service.
While The Rittenhouse maintained its five-star
appeal over the years, it was showing signs of aging.
The hotel-which occupies 10 lower floors within a
33-story tower that houses condos on its upper
levels-had an underused third-floor space
partially occupied by a gallery, as well as an
outdated lobby that was hard to navigate. So, when
Hersha Hospitality Trust acquired The Rittenhouse
in early 2012, it decided the time was ripe to
breathe new life into the property.
Brought in for that refresh were three firms: BLT
DONNA LISLE
BLT ARCHITECTS
Architects (BLTa), which created a revised master
plan for the hotel's first three levels; Champalimaud, which reimagined the interiors of the public
spaces and those of a new set of guest suites on the
third floor; and Berzinsky Architects, which
updated the existing guest rooms, as well as the
hotel's corridors and elevator lobbies.
"The Rittenhouse has always gotten top ratings
and the location is the best in town, but it was long
overdue for a refresher," explains Donna Lisle, senior
associate at BLTa. "The client wanted to rebrand The
Rittenhouse as an elegant boutique experience for
travelers in their 30s and 40s."
Appealing to that younger clientele, designers
say, translated into creating an environment that is
contemporary without being too flashy. To that end,
BLTa took such steps as opening up the lobby and
creating a more intimate reception area by moving a
wall back and installing two new symmetrical recep-
WINSTON KONG
CHAMPALIMAUD
GREG BERZINSKY
BERZINSKY ARCHITECTS
JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2014 boutiquedesign.com
31
http://www.boutiquedesign.com
Boutique Design - January/February 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Boutique Design - January/February 2014
Boutique Design - January/February 2014
Contents
From the Editor
In This Issue
The Buzz
Design Deconstructed
Philadelphia Stories
Refresher Course
Inspiring Ideas
Bigger and Better
Blue Sky Thinking
Products: BDwest Exhibitors
Products: Casegoods
Last Detail
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Boutique Design - January/February 2014
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Cover2
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 1
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Contents
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 3
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - From the Editor
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 5
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - In This Issue
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 7
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - The Buzz
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 9
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 10
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 11
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 12
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 13
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 14
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 15
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 16
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 17
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 18
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 19
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 20
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 21
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Design Deconstructed
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 23
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Philadelphia Stories
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 25
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 26
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 27
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 28
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 29
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Refresher Course
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 31
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 32
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 33
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 34
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 35
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 36
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 37
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Inspiring Ideas
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 39
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 40
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 41
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 42
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 43
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 44
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 45
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 46
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 47
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Bigger and Better
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 49
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 50
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 51
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 52
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 53
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 54
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 55
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Blue Sky Thinking
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 57
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 58
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 59
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Products: BDwest Exhibitors
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 61
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 62
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 63
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 64
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 65
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 66
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 67
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 68
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 69
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Products: Casegoods
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 71
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 72
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 73
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 74
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - 75
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Last Detail
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Cover3
Boutique Design - January/February 2014 - Cover4
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