As the summer season begins, we thought of sharing some outdoor ideas to inspire your design choices. As a natural first step, we couldn’t resist the charms of a perfect rooftop design. In this newsletter, Base4 Senior Interior Designer, Luci Thompson, kicks off our two-part series on Rooftop Design. An effective rooftop design attracts travelers

As hotel designers, we love to see months of design coordination come together. While getting creative with prototypes can be thrilling, some projects are really a highlight of our design portfolio—here’s one of our standout projects. (This Hyatt Place in Jacksonville also made the cut!) In the summer of 2015, we were awarded one of our most

How important is a guestroom work desk? It’s been debated for a while now. A few years back, some hotels tried eliminating this staple and ended up receiving mixed responses from business and leisure travelers. Guest feedback shows that the preferred desk would be strategically designed and well-placed in the room, allowing multiple purposes beyond

For the past month, we have dedicated our writings to inform you about the modular industry and how it could work for you. In this final newsletter, we provide an overview of these instructional guides, so you can save this email for easy-access reference when questions arise in the future. Below are overviews of the

Using Steel Modules for Your Mid- to High-Rise Structures If you’re planning a mid- or high-rise construction, this piece is for you. Modular construction, as you know, is picking up everywhere. But what’s the catch? Is it safe for a high-rise? Should you consider prefab over stick-built? You may have had these questions for a

Building Modular for Low- to Mid-Rise Structures: Next Steps Let’s assume you’ve decided to go modular with your next project. Now what? This third article in our series on modular explains your next steps. After choosing to go modular, you must decide whether to use wood or steel modular boxes. Typically, hotels of 4-5 stories

You know a lot about hotels. You have experience in bringing together all the right players to build hospitality masterpieces. Now everyone is discussing the possibilities of modular and how it can save you time and money. It sounds great, but where do you start?  Is it worth it to investigate modular opportunities- or is

Timing, Coordination, Quality, Budget: How Can Modular Work for You? Off-Site Construction is Trending Hoteliers have a lot on their plate right now! Here are just some of the current challenges in today’s AEC industry: Coordination problems among the various teams, like AEC professionals, vendors, contractors, subcontractors, permitting officials Speed-to-market concerns during this current skilled

After reviewing the practical points about thermal insulation from last week, let’s jump to real-world solutions that you can implement for your next hotel. Design Considerations An expert design team can design your hotel to conserve energy over time. Certain building materials, insulation practices, and design considerations may reduce your hotel’s energy consumption when understood

The average hotel room costs $2196 per year in energy expenses.1 Nearly half of the energy bill relates to HVAC and lighting costs. But costs will increase if your hotel experiences heating and cooling leakages in vulnerable areas. In this two-part newsletter series, I explore some practical ways hoteliers may optimize thermal insulation to reduce

The construction industry is antiquated. It is inefficient. So, what can we do about it?To answer this question, our Base4 CEO, Dr. Garry Vermaas, delivered an address to 500 participants of the Hotel Point 2019 conference last week. In a charged up 60-minute session, Garry discussed innovative and practical ways to stabilize your business in

Open4Business: Introducing Hyatt Place Jacksonville Today marks the beginning of a new series: Open4Business. In this monthly newsletter, we will share some of our completed projects that stand out as unique and worth celebrating. Complete with images and storyline, the newsletters will share industry wins and appreciate our clients and project partners across the nation.

Virtual reality (VR) technology is taking both the architecture—and hospitality— industries by storm! From the old school paper-based drafting to relatively modern digitally produced 2D renderings, architecture has evolved into something much more lifelike. So what is VR after all? And why does it matter for your hotel? Here we go! A Different World Virtual

You can tell a lot about a hotel by its lobby. Most guests judge the quality of their stay within minutes of first entering a hotel. For hoteliers, the lobby serves as a portal to showcase the hotel’s personality—and that’s why every detail counts! In today’s newsletter, I focus on your hotel’s lobby design and

New year, new look! As our website gets a makeover, I am delighted to introduce to you Base4’s renovated and remodeled digital home. This upgrade honors and highlights our commitment to continuous improvement and enhanced experience. In the remaking of our digital address, ease of navigation and simplicity were our focus areas. You can expect

Now that we have established why NFPA 13 is the right fire safety code for your hotel, today we explore one specific area of fire protection coverage that often leads to a great deal of confusion—combustible concealed spaces. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) requires that hotels be equipped with automatic sprinklers. While this is true

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has an elaborate code structure to regulate fire safety according to different categories of occupancies. The focus of today’s discussion is a code called NFPA 13, which mandates sprinkler regulations. The code requires commercial occupancies, such as hotels and motels, to be fully sprinklered for fire protection. Our clients

Base4 is thrilled to announce the appointment of our first female executive, Dr. Jodi Vermaas, as Chief Leadership Officer (CLO). This strategic move was commissioned by visionary CEO, Dr. Garry Vermaas, to solidify and expand Base4 as a global force in the A/E industry. Accomplished Leadership A wife, mother of 12, licensed mental health counselor, counselor

The year ended on a positive note for us! The 22nd edition of Green Book by Hotel Business magazine recognized Base4 as one of their Top Architecture And Design Firms. We have been honored two years in a row, being named among the best and largest firms in the industry. Moreover, we were excited to

If you are building a new hotel… congratulations! Now it’s time to obtain your building permit from city authorities. Everyone in hotel construction is aware of the complications involved in the permitting process. Consuming both your time and money—permitting gets complex as project details increase. That’s when a permit expeditor can help! As the name

As I noted in my last newsletter, tariffs on FF&E imports are affecting the hospitality industry. Additional taxes on the imports of raw materials may change the landscape of the construction industry. Below I describe a few potential challenges that may affect hoteliers and builders in the coming years. Which Tariffs are Making an Impact?

I am thrilled to share with our readers that we had the pleasure of working on Marriott’s millennial-centric brand Moxy in Chattanooga. Only the ninth hotel from this brand nationwide– #Moxynooga opened downtown on November 15. The four-story hotel houses 108 guestrooms and social media-rich public spaces, catered for both leisure and business travelers alike. Our team of experts worked hard to deliver top-notch architectural

FF&E Tariffs In my last newsletter, I explained the pros and cons of modular elevators. Today I want to address a rising concern in the industry—U.S. tariffs on furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) used in hotels. Why the Tariffs Recent trade tariffs on Chinese imports have become a concern for developers in all industries. The goods being

Modular Elevators Last week, I introduced modular elevators and its features. Continuing with this subject today, I list the benefits and drawbacks below. Benefits Shorter Lead Time: It takes manufacturers about eight weeks to prepare the whole assembled elevator once project drawings are finalized. Better Quality: Every part of a modular elevator is prepared and assembled in a

Modular Elevators I often discuss modern hotel construction solutions, including my earlier series on modular hotel construction (Should you go modular with your next hotel? –  FAQ). Today I’d like to expand on this topic and discuss modular elevators. Whether it’s the faster turnaround time for your next hotel construction or a quick ADA upgrade for

What are the Code Allowances for Podium Construction? In my last newsletter, I explained the basics of podium design and the benefits it offers to developers and hoteliers. Today, I discuss what is allowed by the International Building Code (IBC) when utilizing podium construction. What Are the Code Allowances? The IBC limits the number of

Benefits of Podium Design for Your Hotel In my last newsletter, I reported on the declining cost of wood framing after reaching historic highs. Today I’ll explain how developers utilize wood in podium construction to increase both the area and density for new-build projects. What is Podium Design?   Podium design consists of a 1-

Hotel Wood Framing Costs Decline Last November, I reported a price increase in the U.S. softwood lumber market. When costs historically crossed the $600/1000ft board price earlier this year, hoteliers and developers grew increasingly concerned. Since June, however, the market has experienced a decline (see the graph below). In the wake of these turning tides,

Hotel Laundry: Common Issues & Major Expenses In my previous newsletter, I discussed the basics of designing a hotel laundry area. Today, I present some important considerations for creating a well-maintained laundry system. I also discuss approximate hotel laundry expenses according to various hotel laundry needs. LAUNDRY ROOM PLACEMENT: High extraction hard mount washers tend

Designing for Your Hotel Laundry Facilities! Hotel laundry plays a vital role in your hotel’s guest experience. The importance of clean, smooth, and fresh linens cannot be overestimated. The biggest challenge to achieving optimal laundry quality is the sheer volume of laundry. A typical 120-room hotel can process 400,000 pounds of the laundry in a

Hotel Water Softener Basics In previous newsletters, I shared the basics of tank and tankless hot water systems. Today, I discuss one last and often overlooked component of the hotel water system – Water Softeners. What Does A Water Softener Do? A water softener is a tank system that removes the ions (i.e., usually calcium and magnesium) from

Tankless Water Heater Systems In our last newsletter, I shared the basic considerations for designing hot water systems in order to avoid the colonization of Legionella bacteria. Increasingly popular is the Tankless Water Heater System. In fact, we are now including tankless systems in nearly 50% of our hotel designs. Below I explain the basics of these systems for hotel

Hot Water Systems – Designing for Safe Water There are an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 cases a year of Legionella Disease in the United States. Legionella bacteria, the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, is commonly found in water.  If your hotel’s domestic hot water system is not properly designed and maintained, Legionella can find a way

Boardroom Design Reimagined! Guest preferences continue to evolve! As designers continue to reimagine more functional guestrooms and interactive common spaces, the underutilized boardroom also has begun to change shape. The formerly stale feel of boardroom design has been rapidly progressing into a multifunctional and creative space. Indeed, your hotel could offer dynamic boardroom space useful for

Rooftop Pools: Design Considerations Because of rising land costs, rooftop swimming pools are becoming a popular space-saving design option.  Setting up an elevated pool, especially one over habitable rooms, involves many design considerations.  Here are a few: Reliable Building Structure – Water is heavy! To put this in perspective, the amount of water in a standard

High-Rise Design Requirements High-rise hotels have the potential to increase your guest capacity. In my last newsletter, I explained at what point a hotel becomes classified as a high-rise building. In this newsletter, I present the key design considerations for high-rise structures (i.e., above 75 feet), including egress points, emergency systems, and structural integrity. EGRESS

High-Rise Possibilities As land costs continue to rise, hotel developers are looking for new ways to maximize density on new projects. One way to increase guest capacity is to add stories to the hotel. Zoning restrictions limit the height potential on some projects; however, others have high-rise possibilities. In this article, I discuss the implications

Does My Hotel Need a Generator? Hospitality leaders must prioritize the safety and comfort of their guests!  One important consideration is your provision of an uninterrupted power supply. Guests expect hotel power will be functioning, regardless of natural disasters or other unforeseen electrical malfunctions. During unanticipated power outages, maintaining a reliable power source is vital

3D Fly-Thrus Bring Your Hotel Designs to Life! A 3D fly-thru animation is a virtual video tour of your hotel design. These animations bring your project to life by showing the final product while still under design. Our clients use fly-thrus to enhance the design process. Developers also share these animations with their sales and

We Are Hiring Hotel Architects! As one of the fastest growing and innovative AE firms in the US, Base4 is expanding our team. We are seeking cutting edge Architectural Project Managers experienced in working with clients to turn their architectural needs into reality, overseeing every detail from design to completion. Candidates must have more than five years

Hotel Energy Management Systems Part 3: How Much Do They Cost? Energy is the second largest hotel expense! Only staffing costs you more than your energy expenses. As I’ve discussed in my last two newsletters on this topic, reducing energy through an EMS is a great solution to help reduce wasted energy. But here’s the bottom line: What does

Announcing Base4 Interior Design! Base4 proudly introduces our Interior Design Department! Earlier this year, we launched our in-house and US-based Interior Design Department- Base4 Interiors- with a team of skilled, experienced and innovative designers. With the addition of Base4 Interiors, our firm now offers full-service AE design, in-house. The intent of the expansion is improved integration of clients’

Hotel Energy Management Systems Part2: Conserve Energy Without Sacrificing Comfort! In my last newsletter, I discussed Energy Management Systems (EMS) as an option to reduce energy waste in your hotel. One of the most common concerns about an EMS is that they shut off while hotel guests are sleeping due to lack of motion in the guestroom. After

Hotel Energy Management Systems – The Basics A typical hotel room can be unoccupied nearly 70% of the time! In addition, hotel guests are much less concerned about saving energy in your hotel than at their home. Therefore, many hoteliers pay to heat, cool, light, and power TVs for a guestroom with no one in it.

Electric MRL vs Hydraulic Elevators: What is Right for your Hotel? In my last newsletter I answered some of the most common questions we receive regarding hotel elevators. Today I’ll discuss the two most popular types of elevators in low-rise hotels, Electric Machine Room Less (MRL) Elevators and Hydraulic Elevators. Electric MRL Elevators THE BASICS: This innovative system revolutionized the

Why You Need a Guestroom Master Switch Forty-four states require hotel guestroom master switches of some type. The code requirements behind master switches can be confusing as there are varying requirements by state. Additionally, this area of the code constantly changes to meet new energy regulations. All this leads to many questions regarding master switches–

Select the Right Elevator for your Next Hotel! Passenger elevators play a vital role in hotel guest circulation.  In this article, I discuss some basics of elevator design and selection to ensure you make the right decision for your next hotel. We often receive questions from hotel developers about proper elevator selection. Here I address

Should You Consider ICF Construction for Your Next Hotel? Insulating Concrete Form Construction, also called ICF, has proven itself as a high-performance wall system, offering economic and environmental benefits. With rising building costs across the US, many hotel owners are exploring the use of ICF for upcoming projects. As Base4 is currently designing several ICF hotels, I

Hotel Photometric Studies:  Smart Lighting to Maximize Your Hotel Environment In out last newsletter, we discussed LED lighting as a popular energy saving component for hoteliers. Today I expand on how lighting design impacts the overall look and feel of a hotel. City officials often require hoteliers to show proposed exterior project lighting in order

LED Lighting:  Cost-Savings Every Month As we discussed in our last newsletter, we strive to bring energy efficient designs to our clients. We want designs that are not only environmentally friendly, but also beneficial to the bottom line of a project. A popular energy-saving component is LED lighting. Over the last few years, the inefficient

Hoteliers Benefit from No-Cost Cooling! After receiving some great questions from our last newsletter, I wanted to dive into another energy-efficient hotel design solution, one that is often overlooked. This solution involves utilizing your hotel’s dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) for no-cost cooling. A DOAS is a unit typically mounted on a hotel roof that is

See You At ALIS! Base4 is excited to be attending the annual American Lodging Summit (ALIS) on January 19th, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles next week. ALIS is the largest hotel investment conference in the world and we look forward to spending time with many of our clients and partners in the hospitality industry

Cool Roofs – Saving Hoteliers Energy Costs! Hoteliers in warm and sunny climate zones often face the challenge of high monthly cooling expenses. After publishing a series on energy efficient hotel solutions, I received some questions about how a cool roof could be used in a hotel application. Cool roofs are a roofing that reflects sunlight

Efficient Hotel Design to Save on Monthly Utility Costs With construction costs on the rise, most developers are looking for ways to cut both upfront and operational costs. One way to drive down operational costs is to design a hotel as energy efficient as possible.  While we see very few developers pursuing “formal” sustainable certifications

Thank you, Blair Hildahl Base4 Principal 608.304.5228 [email protected]  

Hotel Shadow Studies Bring Added Value To Hotel Projects Hotel developers do not want to enter their first summer season and realize their hotel pool sits in the shadow 90% of the day! Architectural shadow studies early in the design process will help you avoid this, as well as other costly design mistakes. See below

Thank you, Blair Hildahl Base4 Principal 608.304.5228 [email protected]  

Thank you, Blair Hildahl Base4 Principal 608.304.5228 [email protected]  

Extended Stay Hotels On The Rise! In last week’s post, we discussed the popular U.S. hotel brands according to pipeline quantity. The second most popular brand in the U.S. is an extended stay hotel, Home2 Suites by Hilton. With more people staying in extended stay hotels than ever before, we wanted to explore this sector of the industry. Extended

What are the most popular brands and where are they being built? According to a recent Lodging Econometrics report, the world hotel construction market is growing 8% year over year. The U.S market has played a big role in this growth. Here are the top 5 cities in the U.S. with the highest hotel construction: New

Thank you, Blair Hildahl Base4 Principal 608.304.5228 [email protected]  

Developers Considering Dual Branding for New Projects In recent years, dual-branding has become a popular trend with increased interest among both business and leisure travelers. Dual-branded hotels, also known as “Two-in-One” hotels or “Two-Pack” hotels, are simply single structure hotels housing two separate hotel flags typically under the same brand umbrella. Our team is excited

Evaluate Your Construction Options To Reduce Project Costs I received some great feedback from our readers on our recent Rising Lumber Costs newsletter. We had lots of intriguing questions and wanted to continue this dialogue by sharing some similar information about pricing trends for CMU (Block) and Hollow Core Plank construction. I’d like to start by sharing

Hotel Developers Facing Rising Lumber Prices One area we find ourselves discussing often is the rising cost of hotel construction. Our last newsletter highlighted hotel construction type trends as well as general increases in material prices across the US. Today we’ll expand on this and look specifically at how the rising cost of lumber has been increasing

What Construction Type is Right for your Hotel?   Hardly a day goes by where we don’t find ourselves talking to hotel developers about construction types. Whether it be wood, concrete, steel, block & plank, or ICF, construction costs continue to be on the rise and evaluating all your options for construction early on will

Bring Your Hotel To Life! Base4 has an Architectural Visualizations team dedicated to bringing you a realistic image of your finished hotel – before ever breaking ground! Now faster and more affordable than ever, an early 3D Rendering of your project can save money, reduce schedules, and avoid unforeseen complications. Below are some renderings our

Hotel Developers Now Considering Salt Water Pools Love them or loathe them, pools are a brand required amenity for many popular hotel flags. For hotel owner, it’s important to understand your options when it comes to pool technology as it ultimately will affect the overall maintenance, costs, and guest experience at your property. In this

Blair Hildahl Speaks At The NHIF Hotel Forum In Seattle! One of our Principals, Blair Hildahl, was honored to be a guest speaker at the National Hotel Investment Forum in Seattle, WA last week. He was joined by a distinguished panel that shared their thoughts on the changing trends in hotel design in construction. Thank

See you at the Hilton Global Owners Conference 2017! Base4 is excited to be attending next week’s Hilton Global Owners Conference 2017 in Dallas, TX. Base4 is a Hilton Preferred Partner for Architecture, Structural and MEP Engineering and we are honored to be a gold level sponsor at this year’s event. With over 40 Hilton projects currently in various stages of design,

A New IHG Brand – avid™ hotels Last week, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) named its new midscale hotel brand – avid™ hotels. Our team is excited to already be working on several avid™ projects across the country. Below you will see a couple of renderings from one of these projects that our team recently created.   The brand will

Room noise is the number one complaint from hotel guests. Guestroom HVAC systems can cause high levels of guestroom noise. So, today I present one very important⁠—yet often overlooked⁠—product difference between PTACs, VTACs, and VRF: guestroom noise. There are two primary causes of noise: 1. Sound from the Unit This is the most obvious noise

Base4 is excited to have earned a spot on the 2017 Inc. 5000 list! For over 35 years, Inc. 5000 has welcomed the fastest-growing private companies in America into this exclusive club and we are honored to be a part of it for the second year in a row!   Thank you, Blair Hildahl Base4

Take a Peek Inside our First Tru by Hilton! What a pleasure to tour the completed Tru by Hilton project in Cheyenne, Wyoming! Base4 had the opportunity to design this Tru by Hilton for Kinseth Hospitality. The property opened its doors five weeks ago and is only the 4th Tru by Hilton to open in the entire United States. Base4 has been privileged

Expanding on my previous article and about HVAC systems (PTAC, VTAC, and VRF), here I discuss the basics of each HVAC system including their installation and basic operations. PTAC 1. The Basics PTAC stands for packaged terminal air conditioner. These are single, commercial grade, self-contained, and combination air-conditioner/heat pump units—designed for heating and cooling of

Hotel owners estimate that hotel guestroom energy consumption accounts for approximately 40% to 80% of total building energy use. This is a very high percentage of a hotel’s operating budget, so guestroom HVAC systems should not be taken lightly. As hotel architects and engineers, the Base4 team often fields questions about what HVAC system is

See you at IHG Americas Conference next week! Base4 is excited to attend this year’s IHG Americas Conference at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada next week. The IHG Americas Conference brings together industry representatives such as hotel Owners, General Managers, Hotel Management, and Franchise Representatives. IHG comprises 5,070 hotels worldwide and 1,407 in its growing pipeline as well

Modular Construction Part III: How Can Modular Guestrooms Speed and Simplify Your Building Process? As I discussed in previous newsletters Modular Construction & Hotel Bathroom Pods, modular is gaining new attention in the United States especially in the hotel sector. Fabricated bathroom pods are just a part of modular construction that minimizes a project punch list – fabricating entire hotel

Base4 – Top Hotel Design Firm Recognition 2017 Base4 is proud to be included in Hotel Management Magazine’s recently released list, Top Hotel Design Firms in the United States. We thank the publishers for this recognition! The award honors the hard work and innovation of our team expressed through the many achievements of 2017. Our team is growing

Modular Construction Part II: How Can Bathroom Pods Speed and Simplify Your Building Process? In the previous newsletter, I introduced the modular construction method. Last month, I attended the first East Coast Modular Stacking Event, which was dedicated to upcoming developments of Modular Construction in the US market. Please follow the link Should you go

SHOULD YOU GO MODULAR WITH YOUR NEXT HOTEL? PART 4 – FAQ I received some great feedback from our readers on our recent Hotel Bathroom Pods and Full Modular Guestrooms newsletters, which sparked a lot of new dialogue and questions. I thought it would be helpful to our readers to collect these questions and formulate a hotel modular construction

Office Opening:  Base4 Latin America Base4 researchers look ahead to the upcoming needs of our clients. Due to the current and projected boom in hotel development throughout the Caribbean islands and Latin America, Base4 proudly announces the opening of our Santiago, Dominican Republic office. From this location, we intend to provide expert AE design and

Should you go modular with your next hotel? As Base4 partner and representative, I was honored to join Marriott International, OTO Development, Champion Commercial Structures and Le Chase Construction for the first East Coast Modular Stacking Event at the Marriott AC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina last week. I would like to thank Marriott International

Save time, money, and headaches on your next hotel project – Consider Revit for your next design. In case you missed it… last week, we explored the basics of BIM and how powerful Revit can be as a design tool for your next hotel. (Link to Part 1). In today’s module, we focus on one of

Base4 is excited to be attending the Marriott Connect 2017 Conference at JW Marriott L.A. LIVE Los Angeles, CA next week. We look forward to spending time with many of our clients and partners in the hospitality industry at this event. If you are attending, please let us know as we’d love to schedule some time to say

Do you want to save time and money on your next hotel project? Base4 strives to be leaders in the A/E Technology domain. We commit to being the forefront of our industry for technology to provide these benefits to our clients. In this series, we highlight one of most powerful software platforms- BIM. This newsletter is

Base4 is excited to be attending the 2017 AAHOA Annual Conference at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX next week. We look forward to spending time with many of our clients and partners in the hospitality industry at this event. If you are attending, please let us know as we’d love to schedule

Greetings to our Base4 Partners! This past week, Marriott announced their plans to open 300,000 new hotel rooms by 2019. This translates to opening one new hotel every 14 hours for the next 3 years! We are honored to partner with them in many of their current design projects and wanted to highlight their significant

Greetings to our Base4 Partners! Part III:  Getting five stories (and more rooms) out of your wood building hotel projects: In case you missed it… last week, we explored potential ways to increase wood buildings to five stories using Type IIIA construction. (Link to Part 2). Another option for building a 5-story wood hotel is the use of

  Base4 is excited to be attending the 29th Annual Hunter Hotel Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis next week. We look forward to spending some time with many of our clients and partners in the hospitality industry at this event.  If you are attending this year’s event, please let us know as we’d love to schedule some time to

Greetings to our Base4 Partners! Last week, we explored code restrictions pertaining to wood structures and potential ways to increase building height and number of stories.  As discussed in Part 1 (Link to part 1), the International Building Code (IBC) classifies traditional wood framed construction as Type V and allows a maximum of four stories when