The Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel celebrated its grand reopening on 28th October 2010 after a three-year, multi-million dollar renovation, announced Ms. Kris Horacek, general manager. Prior to becoming a Renaissance in 2007, the property at 5501 Carnegie Boulevard was the Hyatt SouthPark, which was in need of a top-to-bottom renovation. The hotel’s new owners, Thomas Point Ventures, which is managed by the Marriott family, hired LS3P Associates, Ltd., to oversee the transformation.
According to Janet Garland Caponi, interior designer and associate principal for LS3P, “There were definite opportunities within the existing architectural space such as the four-story atrium space flooded with natural light, the fountains, and the intimate courtyard. The goal was to invigorate the space by enhancing these existing elements which easily blend the inside and out, while at the same time provide a unique local experience that stays true to the Renaissance brand.”
Ms. Caponi adds that they derived the local aspect through research on Queen Charlotte, who was a notable patron of the arts. Her love of classical music and botany inspired the designers to use art to weave her passions throughout the interior space.
The hotel’s fitness center was the first part of the building to be renovated and it became the prototype of the new green package design for all Renaissance hotels. The floors are made from recycled rubber, there is recycled content in the wall covering, the ceiling tiles were reused and painted, while the ribbon-patterned artwork – which hangs from floor to ceiling – are made from recycled water bottles and are GREENGUARD® certified.
The guest room renovation incorporated a bold color scheme and local photography as well as custom furnishings to facilitate technological connectivity. The guest room corridors and elevator lobbies were refurbished as well.
The hotel’s professional meeting spaces were redesigned to feel and function like upscale boardrooms and the ballrooms provide an elegant backdrop for formal events (the hotel is an in-demand wedding venue in Charlotte).
The lobby, atrium, Flagstones restaurant and The Bar at Flagstones were the final pieces of the renovation. The chandelier in the lobby cascades like rain drops and translucent panels behind the front desk are imbedded with ferns that tie back into the nature theme favored by Queen Charlotte. The bar now has dramatic lighting and opens up to the atrium with its modernized fountain. The new atrium trees provide a tall canopy and draw the eye up so the height of the space is realized.
