Named for three prominent Virginian Presidents – Madison, Monroe and Jefferson, the Draftsman Hotel pays tribute to the past, present and future of this storied, historic region.
Designed by architecture and design firm BBGM, the 11-story hotel features 150 guest rooms, a farm-to-table restaurant, 2,300 square-feet of event space, and two levels of on-site parking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Draftsman Hotel is blocks away from “The Corner” and the UVA Medical Center, yielding stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Photo courtesy of BBGM
Keeping in context with the neighborhood
Located in downtown Charlottesville, BBGM wanted to ensure that the design of the new hotel didn’t disrupt the architectural atmosphere of the existing neighborhood, but also recognizes the dynamic, youthful spirit of the city. Drawing cues from the surrounding properties, the resulting design mirrors the scale of the neighboring buildings.
Rather than opting for a contemporary tower structure, BBGM divided the property into three smaller sections: the podium, the West Main Street façade, and the tower at the corner of 11th and West Main Street. This design presents the contemporary building in a way that helps it to blend in with the neighborhood’s timeless aesthetic.
Photo courtesy of BBGM
The structure
Visitors are first greeted by the 46 foot tall, four-story podium which houses the hotel lobby, retail space, meeting rooms, and two levels of parking. Along West Main Street, the podium is defined by separate retail and lobby entrances, helping to break up the ground-level scale.
Above the podium, and set back from the street, is the West Main Street façade. This segment of the building is comprised of four staggering parts that reflect the proportions of neighboring buildings. Additionally, the change in material helps to visually detach this element from the podium. The remaining tower extends from the corner of the building and along 11th Street. A glass wall penetrates down through the podium, helping to clearly indicate the main entry and pulling together the various elements of the building’s facade.
Photo courtesy of BBGM
The materials
Looking to create a contemporary hotel while honoring the city’s history, BBGM integrated a balance of contemporary materials with traditional proportions. The podium features rust colored Trespa panels – a high pressure laminate siding – reminiscent of the neighboring red brick buildings. Transitioning the material of the facade above the podium to a contemporary Nichiha fiber cement helps to visually detach this element, lessening the visual impact of the hotel on the street’s architecture.
Contemporary materials, technology, and architectural gestures, together with traditional proportions, textures and colors give way to The Draftsman Hotel, the new and vibrant host of Charlottesville.
BBGM is an internationally renowned architecture and interior design firm with extensive expertise in the design of government facilities, office buildings, hotels, resorts, high-rise residential, retail, mixed-use complexes, master plans for development, and renovation/restoration projects.
