Sawyer & Co. updates Philadelphia Marriott

New York-based design studio Sawyer & Co. has completed updating the interiors of the Philadelphia Marriott Old City. The design narrative of the property focuses on the building’s position between the neighborhoods of Old Town and Society Hill.

When creating the interiors of the Philadelphia Marriott Old City, the Sawyer & Co. team drew inspiration from the local warehouse structures and centuries-old colonial detailing found throughout the neighborhood. Utilizing industrial elements and artisanal craftsmanship paired with hard-wearing garments and tailoring, the building location’s past is woven into every element of the design. 

The atrium has open blackened steel frames holding large textile art installations spanning between the brick-clad columns. A woven piece of artwork is juxtaposed with a braided roll of vintage denim, setting the general tone for the property. At the reception area, the phrase “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” has been deconstructed and applied to the wall with golden metal letters. The reception pods are clad with oxidized copper and a leather writing pad.

The atrium now has a large bar with a separate barista café counter. The heart of the Marriott Greatroom, this space has large communal tables at bar height and a variety of lounge seating. A large skylight above tracks the sun and brings in natural light throughout the day. An overhead custom-designed blackened metal grid is added as a layer within the large volume to bring down the scale, adding intimacy and creating a structure for appropriate lighting. The columns around the atrium arcade have been partly white-washed and clad with a backlit metal mesh for an added layering of color, materiality and texture, allowing for intimate mood lighting.

F&B Spaces

The food-and-beverage area has a system of sliding doors and large decorative architectural screens that can separate and expand areas. The M Club has been relocated from the guestroom floors to a prominent area just adjacent to the Greatroom. Millwork and metal mesh frame the glass entry door, which has been clad with a fragmented, pixelated privacy pattern. An added window wall lets more daylight into the M Club and is designed with a nod to historical window facades featuring traditional awning windows and café curtains.

The millwork walls and ceilings in the media room are painted midnight blue to contrast with the bright and open Greatroom. Leather upholstered swivel chairs are set up for viewing the room’s large screen while the golden-clad bucket dining chairs and oversized sofa give the private dining room an intimate and upscale atmosphere.

Corridors and Guestrooms

The overarching design narrative resumes in the corridors, as the carpet pattern creates the sense of an outdoor cobblestoned street with door drops printed with a metallic finish and a custom pattern of industrial, rustic sheet metal and rivets. 

The guestroom caseloads have a reclaimed, whitewashed wood finish mixed with dark wooden accents. Various metal and glass finishes help the rooms find a balance between raw and refined. The bathrooms have porcelain tiling to create a vintage, concrete look.

“At the Buccini/Pollin Group we are really proud of the brand new Philadelphia Marriott Old City. With an irreplaceable location in the heart of the country’s most historic square mile, yet just a short walk to Philadelphia’s vibrant [central business district] and the emerging riverfront district, this landmark hotel needed a thoughtful new design to connect with today’s experiential travelers,” said Dave Pollin, co-president, Buccini Pollin Group “Sawyer & Co. created a remarkable setting for business and leisure guests that immerses them in an authentic Philadelphia design. Indigenous materials pay homage to the city’s rich history and manufacturing craftmanship. Their designs are innovative and modern but pay homage to the many stories that have unfolded in Old City and Society Hill over the past three-plus centuries.”

The hotel was last renovated in 2019.