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The opening of Hotel Indigo marks the premiere of InterContinental Hotel Group's new brand in the New England market. The 190-room boutique hotel reflects an upscale brand that extinguishes any memory of the underperforming property that preceded it. The hotel is owned by Normandy Real Estate Partners and Blue Hawk Investments. The 12-month complete renovation included expansion of the common areas and upgrades to all aspects of the interior design.
During the peek of construction in summer 2007, there were 60-80 workers on site daily. Cost and schedule drove the construction process, adapting and responding as project scope evolved to meet pro-forma objectives.
Scheduling manpower for the project resembled a game of dominoes, with trades carefully sequenced to maximize speed and efficiency. Demolition was followed by rough framing, MEP systems, then drywall. Behind the drywall came the tapers, the tile, paint, finish MEP systems and the flooring…a vertical construction choreography from the 7th floor to the basement that produced a floor of tiling each week.
The usual challenges were encountered in a building constructed in 1964. The cast-in-place facility, with 8 foot deck-to-deck height, severely limited the space available for mechanical systems, leaving just one foot of space to run all tel/data, electrical exhaust fans, ducts, fire protection, sprinkler heads and drain lines for the showers. All plumbing feeds to the bathrooms were fit into a 1 foot high by 5 foot wide area, above the vestibule.
Guest rooms underwent a complete renovation of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The new design features a glass shower enclosure with pebble tile from Italy. The wood flooring in the bedroom is from Portugal. Flat screen TVs and wireless internet connections are provided in every guest room.
The Indigo lobby was completely redone. Bokx 109, a contemporary, upscale New York-style steak house and kitchen were constructed. An upscale grab-and-go food and beverage outlet, along with a fitness center, business center and new meeting rooms were all added to the services provided for guests. Behind the scenes, air-handling units, boilers, hot water tanks transformers and the cooling tower were replaced. Exterior windows were replaced. A new port cochere and store front glass were added at the main entrance. Landscaping and building signage were updated. Parking deck repairs were made. The pool deck was updated with new waterproofing, architectural elements, new cabanas, bar, fire pits and Jacuzzi. |
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