Spandrel Development Partners has announced its first hotel development, the AC Hotel Research Park, a 154-room AC Hotels by Marriott property planned for Huntsville, Ala.
The Huntsville development is the first of several hotel projects New York-based Spandrel is pursuing across the Southeast as part of its newly launched hospitality platform. The company said its next project is in active development in Charlotte, N.C., with another announcement expected in the near future.
The AC Hotel Research Park will be developed within Bridge Street Town Centre in Cummings Research Park. Construction is expected to begin immediately, with the property scheduled to open in 2028. Atlanta-based Peachtree Group is providing construction financing for the project.
“Hospitality is a natural extension of our platform, and we are entering the sector with conviction,” Emanuel Neuman, co-founder of Spandrel Development Partners, said in a statement. “Huntsville’s federal, defense and aerospace employment base creates a demand profile that is distinct from most Sun Belt growth markets, and the AC Hotel Research Park is the first of several hospitality developments we expect to advance in the near term.”
The development is located near two of the region’s primary economic drivers: Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal. According to the company, the research park is home to more than 300 companies and 26,000 employees, while Redstone Arsenal employs approximately 45,000 military, civilian and contract workers.
“Huntsville continues to demonstrate strong demand fundamentals for high-quality, design-forward hospitality offerings,” added Chris DiBenedetto, vp, lodging development, Marriott International. “We are excited to work with Spandrel to bring the AC Hotels by Marriott experience to this dynamic and growing market.”
The AC Hotel Research Park is intended to serve business and government travelers in the Research Park submarket, where recent hotel development has largely focused on extended-stay and select-service products, according to the company.
The hotel will include approximately 4,000-square-feet of meeting and conference space, a restaurant and bar and a fitness center. The property will also have direct access to the retail and dining offerings at Bridge Street Town Centre. Spandrel owns 4.5 acres adjacent to the hotel site and plans to develop a build-to-suit office building nearby.