insiderseattle
Seattle’s original luxury hotel will begin a six-month, twenty five-million dollar renovation that will update all public spaces including the lobby, bar, restaurant and meeting spaces
Starting in January 2020, Fairmont Olympic Hotel will commence a major renovation of all public spaces, signaling the largest renovation project for the historic hotel in 40 years. With a completion slated for summer 2020, the project will unveil a fully transformed lobby that will anchor a new social experience for guests and locals, introduce a new bar, and debut a new restaurant that will reflect the evolution of its beloved The Georgian restaurant. The project will also see a renovation of the celebrated meeting spaces. The hotel will remain open for business with closure to the main lobby level until the renovation’s unveiling.
“This magnificent landmark building from 1924 is evolving for a new era,” said General Manager Markus Treppenhauer. “Seattle is a fast-changing city and our story within the city’s history remains unchanged, yet, as we approach our centennial anniversary, we are bringing new life to the design, culinary offering, and the experience across the hotel.”
Design Spaces for the Next Century
Fairmont Olympic Hotel has tapped Spanish design studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán (LRV) to create a vision and interior design for the hotel which celebrates its storied grandeur with a lush new vision of Seattle luxury. The space concept will present a strong sense of narrative with subtle reference to classic themes, textures and materials. Parts of the hotel will be restored to their original state and some artifacts repurposed with a new life.
Trained as a painter, a traveler by conviction and an interior designer by instinct, Lazaro, Principal of LRV Studio says: “Our mission was to enhance the space, while explaining its history from another point of view. We wanted to create a space in which the customer lives an experience every time they enter it.”
Working in tandem with LRV, Parker-Torres Design Inc. will design the meeting rooms. Parker-Torres completed a $25 million dollar renovation at the hotel in 2016, which included a total renovation of all guestrooms and corridors.
Social Spaces that Buzz
The highlight of the lobby experience will be a striking central bar functioning as a social hub, which will transition throughout the day and include a coffee bar, afternoon tea and elegant hand-crafted cocktails. Connected through a hidden door off the lobby bar, a seductive library bar will be a spirit drinker’s enclave, open select days of the week. The vision for the renovation includes keeping the traditional heritage of this important historic property but elevating it to satisfy the modern traveler’s search for polish, elegance and timeless design.
A Culinary Experience
The hotel’s main dining room will step into a new era as a destination for culinary discovery and a place to see and be seen. Still defined by its soaring classical framework, the new space will be punctuated by bold shapes, surprising contours and a new approach to lighting. Re-opening for dinner, the carefully-selected menu will deliver unforgettable meals for both hotel guests and Seattle foodies.
Momentous Events Happen Here
Seattle’s social address for events, galas and weddings since 1924, Fairmont Olympic will update all of the hotel’s key event spaces with design upgrades, re-imagined lighting, and enhanced technology, creating the perfect stage for significant big-city events.
Follow along in the renovation as updates will be shared through the hotel’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or by following updates at #TheOlympic100Years.
About Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Fairmont Olympic Hotel has been Seattle’s most celebrated social address since opening in 1924. On the site of the original University of Washington campus, the hotel spans an entire city block and was revitalized and reopened in 1982. The Olympic hotel was built as a unique private & public partnership and has been a source of community pride and the city’s most glamorous events for more than 95 years.
About Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where occasions are celebrated and history is made. Landmark hotels with unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments have attracted visitors to Fairmont and its destinations since 1907. The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai are but a few of these iconic luxury hotels, forever linked to the special places where they reside. Famous for its engaging service, grand public spaces, locally inspired cuisine and celebrated bars and lounges, Fairmont promises a special brand of thoughtful luxury that will be remembered long after any visit. With a worldwide portfolio of more than 75 hotels, Fairmont also takes great pride in its deep community roots and leadership in sustainability. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries.