Leaders at Trivers—the design lead and historic consultant on the project—drew inspiration for the design from a family of peregrine falcons living on top of the neighboring World Insurance Building, creating 89 guestrooms, a retail shop, restaurant, lounge, meeting rooms and rooftop bar overlooking the city.
We spoke with Malcolm Berg, founder/president/design director, EoA;—the firm that handled the interior design—Amy Gilbertson, FAIA, LEED GA, principal, Trivers; and Amanda McAllister, AIA, LEED AP, project manager/associate, Trivers about the adaptive-reuse project and what it meant breathing new life into the historic space:
What was the inspiration behind the design of The Peregrine?
Berg: The highly traditional, eight-story office building is surrounded by new construction: high-rise buildings loom, ominously towering overhead. Square in plan, the building is abutted by two others, rendering only two perimeter walls worthy of fenestration. So, a conversion into a hotel, where guestrooms need windows and natural light, seemed highly unlikely. The exposed wall, now a beacon and a focal point from each room, became the overt canvas telling the property’s story.
Gilbertson: Through creation of a new internal lightwell, lead architect, Trivers, proved that a hotel solution was viable and possible. A portion of the internal floor plate was removed on six of the upper floors bringing windows, light and life into the heart of the building.
How did local culture and history influence the design?
Berg: The guestroom tells the story of the relationship between humans and birds of prey that goes back millennia. The chaise pillow displays a hooded falcon’s head and breast profile, a foreshadowing of what’s painted on the mural. The towering mural displays the bird in all its majesty, with the custom leather blind beautifully tailored, detailed and ornamented. The headboards display a miniature sculpture of a falcon in one and another sculpture in the other—the second being that of a boy, gloved hand and arm outstretched, excitedly waiting for the bird’s return.
How do the hotel’s design and offerings work well in the Omaha market?
Berg: The historical building’s story is woven into the fabric of Omaha’s layered history and now stands anew with accolades such as being voted the Best Hotel in 2022 by OMA Tourism Awards.
Can you talk about some adaptive-reuse best practices? How did those apply to this project?
McAllister: Adaptive-reuse offers an inherently sustainable approach to architectural design. The materials that constitute the structure and the exterior enclosure of the building are often those that have the highest embodied carbon, so we make it a goal in our adaptive-reuse work to reuse as much of the existing building as possible. By adapting a building to a new use, we allow the building and those materials to have a second or even third life.
When beginning an adaptive-reuse project, careful documentation of existing conditions is critical. Each historic property is unique, so understanding the structural systems, the wall assemblies, and the core elements all help inform potential modifications in the renovation. Innovative technologies such as three-dimensional scans allow for creation of a detailed and accurate building model.
This initial research and documentation often reveal interesting details about the history of the building and the story of the occupants that can be expressed in the new design. Our team uses this period of discovery as inspiration for our designs.
What about some adaptive-reuse challenges? How do you advise designers to overcome those?
McAllister: Much of the architecture from the early 20th century has deep floorplates that make access to natural daylight and quality views a challenge. This project would not have been feasible as a hotel without carving away a portion of the existing building to form new exterior facades and bring daylight into the core of the building. Another challenge is working with the evolution of the building. Often, the building has transformed over the years, creating complex conditions that make the idea of a “typical” guestroom or unit difficult to achieve. By embracing these unique conditions, a historic renovation can use these conditions to create a more authentic and richer guest experience.
What story is the design trying to tell?
Gilbertson: The overall design approach involved bringing back some of the historic legacy that had been lost while also bringing forth modernizations that add new excitement and experiences to this property. As an example, a former lightwell that had been infilled was reopened and expanded. This space then became a canvas for a local artist offering guests of the lightwell rooms the opportunity to view the art from a different perspective.
What are some adaptive-reuse trends you’re seeing?
Gilbertson: Adaptive-reuse trends are constantly changing to react to the market. As a reaction to COVID-19 and the evolving workplace market, the industry is looking for creative ways to reuse large office buildings for new uses.
People are drawn to unique experiences. Adaptive-reuse often yields a one-of-a-kind hotel experience curated specifically for that market and that community and is based on the history and legacy of that building. Boutique hotel brands such as the Curio by Hilton, which now operates the Peregrine, understand the demand for this curated, unique experience and capitalize on the inherent design properties associated with reusing a building for a new purpose.
Is there anything else readers should know?
Gilbertson: The building had been unoccupied for a number of years. Past modifications had removed the original storefront and replaced it with a heavier granite cladding, which acted as a barrier between pedestrians and the activity held within the building. The design team studied the original design and proposed new storefront systems and new entries that allow for more connection between inside and outside.
The other major modification includes a new rooftop penthouse. Elevators were extended to the roof level, which allows access to a new patio with stellar views of downtown Omaha and perhaps the opportunity to view one of the neighborhood’s peregrine falcons if you’re lucky.
One of my personal favorite places in the hotel is The Habitat Lounge. In addition to an intimate ambiance and style in its two private dining rooms, it offers specialty cocktails, house-smoked whiskey and a menu featuring modern American cuisine.
Berg: The six-story mural on the exposed core, now a beacon and a focal point from each room, became the overt canvas telling the property’s story. The artwork was painstakingly hand-painted by tattoo artist Dave Doenig. The light well mural is exclusively viewed from the Falcon View guestrooms throughout the hotel.
Image credit: Moris Moreno Photography
Tags: Amanda McAllister, Amy Gilbertson, EoA, Malcolm Berg, The Peregrine Curio Collection by Hilton, Trivers
