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DALLAS—When it comes to designing and building hospitality projects in the United States and on a global scale, architecture and construction firms are breaking the norms.
The move comes from shifting consumer preferences for leisure and business travel accommodations and increasing competition from home-sharing sites such as Airbnb and independent boutiques, according to Bryan Jones and Brian Miller, principals of The Beck Group, an architectural design and construction firm based here.
“We integrate architecture, construction, sustainability and technology to transform how our clients design and build,” said Miller. “We’re one of the few firms in the industry to deliver projects this way and, as a result, it allows us to provide clients with solutions at every stage of their projects.”
The Beck Group’s client, The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, TX, illustrates this profound shift in the industry. “Omni Barton Creek wanted to modernize, expand and enhance its offerings. It was essential to the hotel team, and us, that the new additions feel cohesive and connected to the existing property,” said Miller.
The team studied the architectural language of Barton Creek to ensure the refreshed design is compatible and functional. The hotel team wanted a new destination spa, updated meeting facilities to capitalize on the city’s business conference environment, to refresh existing rooms and to add a new hotel tower to host more guests.
“The resort’s last renovation was nearly 20 years ago, so the spa, pool and fitness facilities were configured in a way that wasn’t relevant to how people enjoy hotel amenities today. The new layout and design had to enhance the guest experience,” said Miller.
Located a short distance from downtown in the Central Texas Hill Country, a connection to the outdoors was also important, so the new spaces aim to enhance how guests experience and navigate the outdoors.
“We highlight the beautiful site through new outdoor balconies and porches off of guestrooms, an event lawn, a new pool configuration and the new Mokara Spa,” said Miller. “The spa features an expansive private pool with sweeping Hill Country vistas from the hotel’s second floor. In addition to being a hotel and resort, Barton Creek is unique in that it is a member’s only country club. We were careful to keep the member experience in mind throughout the design process, as many of the new and refreshed facilities also serve members.”