Boutique Design | boutiquedesign.com

Project involves ForrestPerkins, Tihany

The Joule, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel in downtown Dallas, is expanding into three historic adjacent buildings and also adding new-build, three-story addition. The $78 million expansion/renovation will include the addition of 21 guest rooms, eight suites and three penthouse suites; a new ESPA spa; and a second Charlie Palmer restaurant concept, a specialty food hall. In addition, the hotel’s lobby and event space will be expanded.

ForrestPerkins is serving as the architect of record on the expansion, and is collaborating on the project with Tihany Design, which is in charge of creating the hotel concept and its interiors, and Architexas, which is serving as the historic preservation architect.

Noteworthy design features of the project include:

*The façade of the new build three-story building that will connect the existing hotel to a nine-story historic building will include an oversized glass elevator to complement the cantilevered glass front pool that sits on the rooftop of The Joule and extends out over Main Street.

* The new building will include a 4,500-sq.-ft. garden-level terrace, an open-air pavilion capable of accommodating up to 500 people.

* The 2,000-sq.-ft. PM Lounge currently housed below the hotel lobby will be transformed into a theatrical “adult playground” featuring a screening room for up to 26 people and a 1,350-sq.-ft. recording studio and bar/lounge.

* Historic mosaics by Millard Sheets and his team of more than 20 artists will be displayed throughout the hotel. That artwork was originally housed in the Mercantile National Bank Building in Dallas, which was demolished in 2005. The mosaics, crafted in Venice, Italy, depict several themes, including the elements—earth, wind, fire and water—and span from a few feet high to more than 20 ft.

“ForrestPerkins is proud to be working with Headington Cos., owner of The Joule, to support its vision for burnishing the acclaimed and highly successful hotel, and to team with Tihany Design and Architexas to enhance and expand this world-class luxury property,” says Deborah Forrest, principal in charge and co-founder of ForrestPerkins.

The project is slated for completion this fall.