Page 68 - Lighting Magazine November 2019

HAUTE HOSPITALITY
SHINING
STAR
At the historic Hotel LeVeque, celestial lighting illuminates modern design.
BY STEF SCHWALB
Some design projects naturally seem “dressed to impress,” with lighting as an accessory that can either make or break their outcome. Take for example Hotel LeVeque, an Autograph Collection by
Marriott property located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Constructed in 1927, the 47-story LeVeque Tower is a historic structure that showcases richly detailed, exceptional Art Deco style.
At the time it was built, this prominent landmark was the tallest building between Chicago and New York City, telling the world that this iconic Midwest city had become a modern destination undergoing tremendous growth.
Fast forward to 2017 and the goal of combin- ing these historical architectural features with contemporary, luxurious design was no easy feat. However, the interior design and branding
teams at Chicago-based Gettys Group – a lead- ing global hospitality design and development firm – was ready and enthusiastic to take up the challenge through their partnership with Rose- mont, Ill.-based First Hospitality Group. I spoke with Senior Project Designer Ali Bacon for some insights on the widely recognized work, the result of which has seen Hotel LeVeque named as one of Architectural Digest’s Most Beautiful Hotels in America. The property has also been awarded the Branded Lifestyle Hotel Award by the Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association.
To highlight the Hotel LeVeque’s logo and tag- line as a “beacon of hospitality,” and to make the hotel a more experiential stay for its guests, the lighting design needed to enhance the property’s theme and transcend it throughout the space. Seen as a “star” of the Columbus skyline, the
66 enLIGHTenment magazine | november 2019
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