CLEVELAND– The newly built InterContinental Hotel here, which debuted in May 2003, not only offers a clean, contemporary style appealing to both leisure and business travelers but also complements its neighbors on campus. Unique modern architectural elements and the latest in conferencing technology are a few highlights of the project’s design, which was created by Brennan Beer Gorman Architects (BBG) of New York City. The 304-key InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center Cleveland was constructed as an elegant contribution to the existing Cleveland Clinic Foundation campus. Using the materials palette shared by many of the clinic’s other buildings, the hotel has been integrated into the master planned campus while, distinguishing itself with its bold geometry and subtle massing. According to Frank LaSusa, a partner with BBG Architects and who is responsible for this project, coming up with the hotel’s design scheme was a challenge in that it had to meet requirements of the Cleveland Clinic, but also pose as an appealing lodging option for those visiting the area. “The hotel is located at the Cleveland Clinic, which has its own standards for all buildings on its campus. Our design of the hotel respects these standards and complements nearby buildings while making an elegant and functional contribution of its own. Façade materials, such as Texas Pink and Radiant Red granite, echo the adjacent buildings and provide aesthetic unity to the campus,” noted LaSusa. In addition, the hotel is clad entirely in granite, which is unusual for a contemporary hotel, he said. “Many structures will have stone at the base and another material for the bulk of the façade. Our client was committed to using the highest quality materials throughout the project,” noted LaSusa. The 16-story building is clad with aluminum panels and alternating rows of varying granites, complementing adjacent buildings. Ribbon windows, some opaque and others clear, accentuate the graceful, measured façade. The lower four floors of the structure form the base of the building, encapsulating the skyway on the north side of the hotel. The main conference hall projects from the south side, creating a canopy over the ground floor main entrance. The porte cochere, the podium, and columns are all constructed of aluminum. “The semicircular porte cochere is the signature element of the hotel. It defines the entry and provides for the dynamic 500-seat amphitheater above,” said LaSusa. The guestroom tower rises above the base in an east-west axis, anchoring the southern end of the clinic’s landscaped grounds. The linearity of the tower is punctuated with several softly curved columns of windows. A setback mechanical penthouse, framed in pre-cast concrete, caps the structure. In addition to creating a new space that looks like it belongs with the existing structures, “the project posed another challenge— how to incorporate an existing sky bridge into the hotel. The bridge, which connects the hotel to other buildings on campus, has been integrated into the Inter-Continental at the third floor and allows for immediate access to the large conference center,” said LaSusa. The clinic’s existing elevated skywalk was seamlessly integrated into the hotel’s northern façade at the third story. BBG designed a glass-enclosed balcony north of the skyway, extending the façade with a slight curve, to echo to the rounded porte cochere on the hotel’s south side. The ground floor lobby was planned as an open and engaging space for visitors, said LaSusa. Clear site lines are established from the main entrance through to the lobby lounge at the rear of the space. An unobtrusive front desk has been positioned to the west of the main entrance, which is designed to alleviates congestion as guests check-in, move to the elevator and exit the hotel. Food and beverage outlets line the west and north facades, offering ample natural light and views to diners. A grand stair leads guests to
