Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton could become the first net-zero hotel in the U.S. The property will utilize renewable solar power sources to generate the electricity needed for its 165 guestrooms and suites, common areas, restaurant, laundry and meeting rooms. Slated to open this spring, the all-electric hotel is accepting reservations for May 19 and beyond.
Hotel Marcel New Haven will operate independent of fossil fuels, resulting in zero carbon emissions. It is also expected to be the first Passive House-certified hotel in the country, besides becoming a LEED Platinum-certified hotel.
The eco-friendly hotel is the result of the vision of lead architect, developer and owner Bruce Redman Becker, president of Becker + Becker. He purchased the building, which originally opened in 1970 as the Armstrong Rubber Company Headquarters, and modernized it with a focus on sustainability.
Listed on the “State and National Register of Historic Places,” the building was originally designed by Marcel Breuer. Features in the transformation of the building include a power-over-ethernet lighting system that reduces lighting energy use by over 30 percent; repurposed building materials throughout, such as light fixtures and restored wood-paneled walls in suites that were once the Armstrong executive offices and conference rooms; and upgrades to enhance interior temperature control and air quality, resulting in the building using significantly less energy per square foot than most hotels.
Becker + Becker, along with partner Dutch East Design, retained many design elements of the original building’s Brutalist architecture with board-formed concrete and granite tile and a focus on functionality, clean lines and geometric forms. Operated by Remington Hotels, Hotel Marcel New Haven restores the former property’s structure and celebrates its storied history, while adding contemporary aspects including 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space with a penthouse courtyard.
Triple-glazed windows provide insulation to keep guestroom temperatures stable, while reducing noise levels. Built-in motorized sheer and blackout window shades provide a better night’s sleep. Guests and travelers also have the convenience of 12 Tesla Superchargers or universal level-two chargers for their electric vehicles.
The American restaurant and lounge BLDG (pronounced “building”) offers locally sourced menu items served alongside biodynamic and organic wines. BLDG’s kitchen and the hotel’s laundry room run on electricity instead of natural gas. The kitchen uses induction, an energy-efficient process that ensures a more precise and even heat. Besides the restaurant and bar, Hotel Marcel New Haven features a grab-and-go station offering sustainable snacks, besides design-focused gifts and a water filling station.
For more information, visit www.hilton.com/hotel-marcel-new-haven.
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