SAN FRANCISCO—Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. plans to convert the Powell Hotel located here into a new independent, boutique hotel to be renamed The Axiom Hotel.
Host Hotels & Resorts acquired the hotel in early 2014 with the intent to transform the hotel and has selected Kokua Hospitality as the operator. Stonehill & Taylor is the designer of this new hotel.
Once reopened in September 2015, the hotel will offer 152 guestrooms and new public spaces. Located off Market Street, the building, which is on the National Historic Registry once housed the famous Pig & Whistle restaurant.
Originally built in 1908, the hotel is located next to Hallidie Square, whose namesake Andrew Smith Hallidie invented the steel cables that power the San Francisco cable car system. Inspired by this historic connection and the energy of invention both in history and modern day, the design team plans to focus their inspiration around the world “Pulse” and on the energy of the city.
History collides with the digital revolution at The Axiom, according to the firm. The hotel’s turn-of-the-century history will be combined with modern ambience and seamless technology.