And, given its location in the Arts Center of Midtown, the space is set to contribute to the city’s vibrant arts and culture community. Its design is a collaboration between Studio 11 and the Kimpton Design team.
“As a new-build hotel that’s part of a greater development project in Midtown Union, we wanted the interiors to complement the surrounding modern, crisp and clean architecture by adding layers of texture, warmth and authentic materials,” said Diana Martinez, senior design director, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. “Being a close neighbor to the High Museum of Art and Moda, the art program is a central focus to the space. The furniture selections are sculptural and unique artisan finds to create a more meaningful combination of seating groups and soul within all areas of the hotel. It’s sophisticated and posh while also being approachable.”
The hotel is owned by a MetLife Investment Management affiliate and developed in partnership with AMS Hospitality LLC Inc. as part of the Midtown Union development, a mixed-use project with 588,000 sq. ft. of office space, 32,000 sq. ft. of retail for shopping and dining and 355 luxury high-rise apartments.
“The Atlanta market is incredibly important to Kimpton, not only is it the Americas HQ for our parent company, IHG Hotels & Resorts, but it’s also one of our fastest-growing markets,” Martinez noted. “With one of the busiest airports in the world, Atlanta is a gateway to the South and a city of significant commerce and development. There’s also an earnestness to the culture here that bodes well with our culture of heartfelt care.”
Additionally, Atlanta is gaining the reputation of being the “heart of the arts” in the Southeast, with a significant concentration of cultural and arts institutions. The Kimpton Wade Hotel plans to contribute to the scene with an art program featuring a collection of artworks by local artists and arts organizations throughout its interiors.
“Given it is a major city and urban market, there’s an expectation of a slightly more formal and sophisticated service style and ambiance,” Martinez said. “To balance that and honor a local and energetic vibe, an edge and attitude is woven through the space and can be found within the furniture and art to allow for an inviting, cool and effortlessly undone space—just like the Kimpton brand.”
She added that its design is also focused on balancing new with heritage; modern with timeless; coupled with the city’s energy. The team accomplished this through statement architecture layered with unpretentious warmth in details, finishes and one-of-a-kind furnishings.
“The Wade’s identity through the interior spaces was created specifically for the location and type of guest we aspired would stay here,” Martinez said. “The materials, furnishings and art program were hand-selected to complement the space we envisioned that aspirational guest would expect while traveling to the Midtown neighborhood in Atlanta. All the while, our hotel design drafts off of the very modern and statement envelope that is part of the larger development project.”
The Kimpton Wade Hotel will join the Kimpton Overland at the Atlanta Airport and Kimpton Sylvan Hotel in Buckhead. Additionally, Martinez said, Kimpton is expanding further outside of the city when it opens a 125-room boutique hotel in Roswell in early 2024.
