Virgin Hotels plans property for Washington, D.C.

Virgin Hotels is building a new hotel in Washington, D.C., with a projected opening sometime in 2019.

The hotel is expected to open near Union Market, and is being developed as part of a partnership between D.B. Lee Development & Construction and Brook Rose Development. The property’s address is located at 411 New York Ave, in a building that held a variety of art studios in the past.

The developers plan to incorporate art into the hotel’s construction. This is fitting, as the building is located near the former Union Arts art collective. When completed, the 178-room hotel will house art studios for lease on its second level, as well as a sculpture garden populated with pieced from local artists. The hotel will also offer an artists-in-residence program.

“The Union Market area is representative of that renaissance with significant and eclectic development embracing the historical fabric of the market and community,” Dennis Lee, president of D.B. Lee, said in a statement. “We feel that Virgin Hotel will not only become a hub of activity in Union Market, but will also greatly enhance the cultural growth of the city.” 

Multiple dining options will be on offer at the hotel, including a coffee shop, rooftop lounge and Commons Club, a food & beverage concept included in most Virgin hotels. The property will presumably include other branded perks, such as free Wi-Fi, no cancellation fees or fees for early check-in/late check-out and a free daily social hour for guests. The property will be directly managed by Virgin Hotels.

The first ever Virgin Hotel officially opened in Chicago in 2015. Though several other properties are in development, none others have opened. Locations in the brand’s pipeline include San Francisco; Silicon Valley, Calif.; Palm Springs, Calif.; Dallas; New Orleans; Nashville; and New York.