Inspired by Austin’s atmospheric bridges and the Colorado River, the JW Marriott Austin is proudly showcasing its extensive renovation, bringing it up to the new brand standard.
One of Austin’s centrepiece hotels, the property is showing off a property-wide refresh, spanning the lobby, guest rooms, and more, magnificently accomplished by U.S. design firm KTGY.
The 1,012-room, 34-storey hotel, which opened in 2015 as Austin’s second major convention headquarters hotel after the Hilton Austin, replaced its former palette of Texas-inspired golds and browns with cool blues, flowing forms, and updated finishes, inspired by the river.
White Lodging, which developed the JW Marriott on Second Street and several other downtown Austin hotels, once again turned to KTGY for the redesign. The firm also designed the hotel’s original interiors.
White Lodging selected KTGY to design the renovation based on the longstanding relationship between the organisations as leaders in hospitality, and KTGY’s proven ability to transform spaces while honouring heritage.
Revisiting its original concepts more than a decade later, KTGY’s renovations demonstrate the firm’s unique ability to create spaces with staying power. In each, the new design is an investment in the original concept, maturing each into a modern application of hospitality that welcomes guests to enjoy their environments.
According to KTGY: “Revisiting the JW Marriott Austin was a pleasure for our team. Returning to the original concept but updating it to the brand’s current standards was an exciting opportunity to reflect on how Austin has changed, and to draw on the city’s commitment to conserving its rivers and natural spaces. To bring the property up to the new brand standard, we introduced new carpet and soft goods, new art and a different colour scheme, but retained architectural finishes and standout moments, with a twist.”
An oversized fireplace is the focal point of the lobby and a central hub for the hotel; it houses a bronze sculptural lattice and simulated flames, appropriate for the climate. The designers drew inspiration from Austin’s bridges and waterways to accent the lobby space, delineating space with a metal mesh and outlining the lobby bar to set it apart.
Here, guests are greeted with new carpeting featuring splashes of blue to contrast the city’s heat, and fluid forms in lighting and decorative accents. KTGY also organised the Lobby Bar’s new seating to create a welcoming environment for individuals and groups to gather. Artwork throughout the space celebrates unique artists and embodies the spirit of Austin.
The executive lounge is a multifunction space divided between private booths and open table space. The 1,012 guest rooms are decked in bright, natural colours. And the guest corridors feature the blues and greens of Austin’s waterways. The 59 meeting and event spaces likewise benefit from carpet and accents that reflect the trees and waterline. Together, these effects reflect Austin’s maturity as a destination and invoke the calm of its surrounding landscapes.
In addition to the hotel interiors, the KTGY team renovated Corner, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant, to embody Tex-Mex couture. A palette of orange, golds, wood tones and contrasting black materiality celebrates the warmth of southwestern scenery. The rooftop pool deck has also been reimagined to create a sense of rejuvenating serenity with cool colours and wood accents. Edge Rooftop Bar, located on the fifth floor, mimics a vibrant gathering with bright blues, reds and sunset tone.
KTGY commented: “The refreshed design was intended to create a calming counterpoint to the city’s energy, drawing inspiration from the natural flow of the river, while maintaining a connection to the culture and character that have helped make Austin a destination for visitors from around the world.”
Founded in 1991, KTGY is an award-winning firm of architects, designers and planners that realise new possibilities through inspired design. Everything they do, from architecture and interior design to branded environments and urban design, is based on a people-centric storytelling and design process that creates memorable experiences nationwide.
White Lodging, established in 1985 by the late Bruce White, has evolved into one of the country’s largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties. The company develops, owns, and operates a portfolio of hotels and restaurants in destination-driven markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Louisville.
