The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced that its on-airport hotel, the Grand Hyatt at SFO, has been honored nationally for its collaboration construction approach. In their 2020 Awards, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) recognized the Grand Hyatt at SFO with a National Award of Excellence in the “Commercial/Office” category. The hotel had already won a DBIA merit award in August before moving onto the national competition.
“Within the airport industry, SFO has led the way in demonstrating how effective the design-build approach to construction projects can be,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “This collaboration delivered an exceptional outcome in the creation of the Grand Hyatt at SFO, and we are grateful to be honored by the Design-Build Institute of America for our efforts. My thanks go out to the project team for this achievement.”
As the only on-airport hotel at San Francisco International Airport, the $237 million luxury hotel sits on 4.2-acres and features 351 rooms with 22 suites, 14,435 square feet of well-appointed meeting and event space, two distinct culinary concepts and an impressive art collection that was curated exclusively for the hotel by the San Francisco Arts Commission.
CONCEPT & DESIGN
The bold, vibrant design and architecture of Grand Hyatt at SFO is the vision of San Francisco-based architect Hornberger + Worstell and associate ED21, along with two internationally acclaimed interior design firms, BraytonHughes Design Studios and RoseBernard Studio. Guests step out of the hotel’s new AirTrain station, which features a dramatic kaleidoscopic stained-glass art installation, and after crossing an enclosed bridge, they enter the hotel’s stunning, light-filled lobby where they are greeted by expansive windows and views of SFO and hills beyond.
The California Eucalyptus grove-inspired lobby invites guests to relax among natural wood tables overlooking the airfield. As a subtle visual homage to the Airport’s long history as an aviation gateway to and from the Pacific Rim, the marble reception desks are designed to recall a set of vintage pilot’s wings.
GUESTROOMS
Light-filled guestrooms, designed to become a sanctuary for modern travelers, counterbalance stressful travels with calm bespoke interiors, soundproofed, floor-to-ceiling windows. Each guestroom also features a Hyatt Luxury Pillowtop Grand Bed TM, flat-screen TV and elegant bathrooms. As a part of the Grand Hyatt brand’s eco-friendly tenets, Grand Hyatt at SFO offers large-format bath amenities and works to limit single-use plastics. With the hotel’s location directly adjacent to the International Terminal and airfield, guests have the unique opportunity to enjoy magnificent moments of close-up views of airplanes.
ARTWORK
Developed in collaboration with the San Francisco Arts Commission, the public art program at Grand Hyatt at SFO reflects nature and the innovation and creativity for which San Francisco is celebrated throughout the world. A total of 16 works including sculpture, mosaic, painting and photography created by internationally recognized artists include Green Map by Ellen Harvey, Circadian Transit by Tahiti Pehrson, and Ether by Japanese artist Kohei Nawa. A true statement piece, Ether is a 35-foot sculpture located on-site at the exterior of the hotel references weightlessness and the movement of airplanes.
SUSTAINABILITY
Designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification (expected early 2020), Grand Hyatt at SFO’s operations reflect the sustainability missions of both Hyatt and the San Francisco Airport Commission. SFO has set a goal to become the world’s first Zero Net Energy (ZNE) airport campus by 2021, and the property is in line with this goal with a ZNE capable design. Grand Hyatt at SFO is 26% more energy efficient than a baseline hotel, identified by LEED, and the property generates 133,000 kWh of energy annually with roof-mounted photovoltaic panels.
Highlights of the property’s water sustainability efforts to save 6,700,000 gallons of water each year include the installation of water-efficient systems including cooling towers with state-of-the-art water flow controls, efficient flush toilets, low-flow faucets and showerheads, as well as Energy Star®–rated ice machines. Additional sustainability endeavors include the use of regionally sourced building materials, recycled content used in building construction and furniture and much more.