In San Francisco, the Clift, now known as The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, recently reopened after a complete renovation by Gensler. The design team took inspiration from the hotel's century-old history and architectural elements found in the original drawings from 1915.
Every space within the hotel, from the lobby to the guestrooms, got a brighter color palette of whites, grays and metallic accents.
The Spanish Suite, part of the original residence of the hotel’s first owner, Frederick Clift, also was renovated. The outdoor terrace is now enclosed to create extra event space. It also has new windows that blend in with the existing exteriors.
The artwork for the guestrooms and corridors was inspired by the Pan American Pacific International Expositions held in 1915, depicting images of the structures built for the event. (The pictures were discovered in storage.) They were refurbished and placed in their original locations. The design team had the exhibition poster printed on a mirror and placed in an antique frame at the elevator landing.
The Redwood Room was refreshed with new seating and recessed lighting, retaining its classic Art Deco style. The room also got original Gustav Klimt paintings found onsite that have been restored.
Fredericks, a café redesigned and replaced in its original location on the first level, has a black and white floor, first seen in the space in the 1920s.
The facade is being restored and the building is outfitted with all new electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems.