Aloft Opens its First Adaptive Re-Use Hotel Project

Starwood has opened its Aloft brand’s first adaptive re-use project in the heart of downtown Dallas. Aloft Dallas Downtown is located in a historic railroad freight depot, now transformed into the city’s newest hotel complete with 193 rooms, accessible technology and a trendy atmosphere.

Aloft Dallas Downtown occupies an eight-story antique building 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.

“While all of Starwood’s nine lifestyle brands are candidates for adaptive reuse 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.”

The transformation of the original train depot into Aloft Dallas Downtown was completed over a three-year period under the direction of architecture and design team at One Group Design, LP.

“The designer did a fabulous job marrying the old building with the new. We essentially dropped a new, ultra-modern building inside the bones of a warehouse that is on the historic register,” said General Manager Al Hunter. “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% of the demolition debris was re-used below ground in the lower-level meeting and ballroom spaces.

Located at 1033 Young Street, Aloft Dallas Downtown is just steps from City Hall and the Dallas Convention Center. Also nearby are the American Airlines Center, the Arts District and the corporate offices of AT&T, Deloitte & Touche and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Aloft, Starwood, Dallas