Sneak Peek: Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia after year-long renewal

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
1000 659 Daniel Fountain
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The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia has unveiled a year-long, multi-million dollar renewal project. Co-designed by Wimberly Interiors and LW Designs, with Coscia Moos Architecture, the updates to the hotel include all-new guest rooms and meeting spaces, a refreshed lobby experience and public spaces along with a new restaurant, bar and lounge by Richard Sandoval.

The iconic hotel, steeped in history, was originally built as a reproduction of the Pantheon when it opened in 1908 as The Girard Trust Company. The property-wide enhancements focus on the scenography of the building – explore history and experience the arts – paying tribute to its rich past.

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
The new design brings a fresh and sophisticated feel to the hotel while also telling a story through neutral colours, textures and materials inspired by money and currency, with pops of metallic, bronze and emerald green. Artwork and guest amenities reflect a distinct sense of place in the heart of Philadelphia.

New guest room design features luxurious fabrics and furniture finishes in a welcoming neutral color palate. Punctuations of green and blue along with notes of bronze and nickel layer a contemporary polish.

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
The new guest rooms offer a distinct space for work and relaxation with a cohesive unit encompassing the desk and TV console which work together to create a flexible work and dining space for guests.

The Ritz-Carlton Suite is the premier accommodation in Philadelphia. Offering beautiful views of the city from the 31st floor, a personal elevator for exclusive use, two full bedrooms, separate living and dining spaces, personal kitchen en-suite with a large dining table and a monumental Master Bath with incredible city views of the iconic City Hall and 27-ton statue of William Penn.

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia Club Lounge has been updated to reflect a distinct sense of place in the heart of the city. The lounge, which contains the original wood paneling made of French walnut serves as a hotel within a hotel. Here, service reaches a new level with dedicated private concierges and personalized amenities. In the exclusive Club Lounge, guests will discover a quiet space for working, meeting or relaxing with complimentary culinary and beverage presentations throughout the day.

“After years of thoughtful planning and construction we are thrilled to re-introduce The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, and showcase the new modern interiors inside our classic and historic building” said Darryll Adams, General Manager. “We are delighted to solidify our place as the only branded luxury hotel in Philadelphia.”

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
High ceilings, 9,000 tons of Georgia marble and original architecture of the 101-foot dome, which once was the largest dome in the Western Hemisphere, are dazzling. Upon entering the building a large lounge area with a plethora of comfortable seating is surrounded with two large crystal walls that fill the space with sparkle and light.

The original oculus, which used to host the bank tellers as they would pull the money through the center of the oculus from the vault directly below is still intact and covered by a glass wall which is now surrounded by a high-top bar.

Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
Even the original bank vault now serves as a luxurious function room. With a variety of layout options and room sizes, The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia has flexibility to host everything from small C-level board meetings to cocktail fundraisers and holiday parties. The hotel features two ballrooms: a 3,075 square-foot petite ballroom and the 6,100 square-foot Grand Ballroom, located on the concourse level, which is the centerpiece of the hotel and can hold up to 600 people. The sky can be admired through the ballroom’s large crystal chandelier as guests look up into the celling, into the oculus and through the top of the rotunda in the lobby.

Photos: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/philadelphia

Daniel Fountain / 07.07.2016

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

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Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

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Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
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