Aloft Hotel / LaGuardia Airport
100-15 Ditmars Blvd East Elmhurst, NY
Square Feet: 89,000 S.F. (Renovation)
Guest Rooms: 148 keys
Completion Date: February, 2017
Project Architect: Lin-Lih Lin
Project Designer: Will Lin
Located off Grand Central Parkway across from LaGuardia Airport, PPA was commissioned in 2014 to renovate and transform both the exterior and interiors of these two mid-century modern “beltway” hotel buildings into a contemporary and striking ensemble. Both IBIS and Aloft brands emphasize the importance of guest experience through a design- oriented product.
Both IBIS, a 9-story circular building and ALOFT , a 7 story rectangular building were renewed with unifying elements applied including floor to ceiling guest room windows, silvery metal panels, crowning roofs, welcoming canopies, and enlarged transparent glass entry lobbies at the base. Both facades were treated with playful highlight colors. The IBIS has green gradient bands circling the floors recalling the brand. The ALOFT with a Mondrian pattern of blue and yellow on the facades as well as under the “Swoosh” roof overhand and entry canopy.
The interior design concept for the IBIS, the 9-story circular building, provides a distinct local personality and with a colorful, bright and energetic brand spirit with a hint of humor. Inspiration is taken from the NYC Subway system. The implementation applies derived colorful signage, graphics and vignettes having tongue-in-cheek humor. Throughout the project color, lighting, furnishings and accessories are used to create a space that triggers happy mood.
The interior design of the ALOFT uses open flowing spaces. No walls. No limits. The finishes are an industrial color palette of natural woods and smooth gray metal, urban-inspired aesthetics. Truly a converted modern loft building
PPA reduced the mid-century parking lot base and worked with a landscape architect to significantly tree- scape (a rarity in spaced constrained New York ) to provide an outdoor experience for the hotel guests to unwind.
