Holston House Hotel, James Robertson Apts. Conversion. 190 rooms, $65 million

[Pdt2f]

^^Love the canopy! They did a hell of a job with this project! Great addition to downtown!

[CenterHill]

It looks great!     I also noticed this week the beautiful exterior stonework on the front of the Holston is being cleaned.      Some knucklehead a while back had applied gray paint on the stonework across the front.     I've been patiently waiting/hoping the crews would be able to successfully remove it and it looks like they have.       This little hotel is really going to shine.   

I'm wondering if there is any opportunity for the Holston to somehow interact with 5th & Broad, since it will back up to the new construction.    

Edited December 7, 2017 by CenterHill

[CandyAisles]

It appears that the gray paint was covering some undesirable graffiti  but also some rather large  cracks in the stone.  Why is it that you never uncover something super cool on these existing buildings?

[arkitekte]

3 hours ago, CandyAisles said:

It appears that the gray paint was covering some undesirable graffiti  but also some rather large  cracks in the stone.  Why is it that you never uncover something super cool on these existing buildings?

People often do; however, most of the time it's always on the interior. You'd be surprised.

Most commonly, "urban renewal" from the 60's and 70's covered up many ornamental architectural details on buildings that were built prior to WWII - this goes for both exterior and interior elements. Drive through any small town, specifically down main street or around the court square and you'll find aluminum cladding that has been applied to facades that cover up the original architecture. Here's a nice surprise from San Antonio from a few months ago...obviously there was knowledge (from historic photos) of the original cladding, but no one really knew how much was left. Many times the nasty drop ceilings that are in renovated historic building cover the original ceilings, which are usually very ornamental. 

  

These photos are from the City of San Antonio's Office of Historic Preservation Facebook Page. 

[xtianpoop]

The photos above are giving me hope about the First TN building in Chattanooga that received similar treatment. Maybe one day we'll see the beauty beneath again!

(Credit: Perry Mayo Collection of Picnooga)

 

[Nathan_in_DC]

On 12/6/2017 at 9:26 PM, arkitekte said:

Many times the nasty drop ceilings that are in renovated historic building cover the original ceilings, which are usually very ornamental.

I remember noticing this while I was in school at UT Knoxville in the old library. Much of the ceiling was covered in old, dilapidated drop ceiling, but the parts that weren't or that were missing tiles revealed beautiful ceiling murals and wood/plaster work. I do not understand the obsession with covering up beautiful architectural features in the 60s and 70s.

[arkitekte]

6 hours ago, Nathan_in_DC said:

I remember noticing this while I was in school at UT Knoxville in the old library. Much of the ceiling was covered in old, dilapidated drop ceiling, but the parts that weren't or that were missing tiles revealed beautiful ceiling murals and wood/plaster work. I do not understand the obsession with covering up beautiful architectural features in the 60s and 70s.

Much of it was a cover up (or an act of ignoring) of needed maintenance. In the cases of commercial buildings, particularly the exteriors, it was an attempt to add more of a clean or modern look. Keep in mind many of these historic buildings are located in areas that had seen a downturn due to the creation of automobile suburbs and the interstate system. Mall, etc. removed the need to visit many of these buildings and this was an attempt to match the architecture found out in loop land. 

When folks found out that this didn't work, many closed their doors and the cheap cover up materials remained. Many are just now being removed after 50 to 60 or so years. Luckily, just like in the case of asbestos siding covering the original wood siding on historic houses built between 1910 and 1935ish, the non-original facade materials have sheltered and in many times, preserved the original materials. Asbestos, as harmful as it is to humans, has well preserved many historic houses original materials. 

[Pdt2f]

^ You see that a lot in archaeology too, especially buildings from the Middle Ages. In the 16th century the Protestant reformers painted over many beautiful paintings and mosaics in medieval churches, cathedrals, and monasteries in France, Germany, and the UK, and only in recent years have they been uncovered. The paint has often helped preserve what was under it. 

[CandyAisles]

And another rendering of the rooftop pool.

[markhollin]

Looking NE into lobby areas:

 

Looking north into lobby area:

 

Looking south from 25th floor of Renaissance Hotel:

[CandyAisles]

Sign is up. Opening tomorrow afternoon is the word on the street.

[archilove]

Good bones create opportunities.

[markhollin]

Part 1 of a two part series on pics from the newly opened Holston House:

 

[Nash_12South]

It's nice, but stairs, stairs and more stairs.

[titanhog]

1 hour ago, Nash_12South said:

It's nice, but stairs, stairs and more stairs.

Yeah...I was thinking that with my bad knees, that would be a place I would want to stay away from.

[donNdonelson2]

I’m fairly certain that they have ramps and/or elevators to permit access and comply with ADA requirements.

[MLBrumby]

With all those half-flights of stairs, it could be a set for a 70s sitcom... HOT*L NASHVILLE. 

[markhollin]

Part 2 of 2.

The bar featuring the original ornate ceiling:

 

A sitting area in the lobby:

The street level restaurant:

 

Some of the artwork next to the elevator entrances on each floor:

 

Over a hundred of these custom light fixtures permeate the dozen floors:

 

Sample room:

[CandyAisles]

Stairs are historic and were required to be retained, for what it's worth.

[Nash_12South]

1 hour ago, CandyAisles said:

Stairs are historic and were required to be retained, for what it's worth.

I just see so many business travelers dragging computer bags around, all day, that I see the stairs as a headache. 

[Pdt2f]

Wait, are there no elevators? Haha I may have missed that crucial bit of info somehow. 

[e-dub]

there appear to be elevators on the right side of this photo:

 

[CandyAisles]

Of course there are elevators.  There is one that connects the street level entrance at the restaurant to the lobby level and obviously elevators that go up to the tower.

[CandyAisles]

[markhollin]

TENN on Top bar will open March 28th on the top floor of The Holston House. 

The 3,300-square-foot bar will serve a cocktail menu. Options will include a frozen watermelon margarita, mojito and paradise kingfisher. Beer and wine will also be available.

The food menu will include a Dickel Sandwich with fried green tomato, bacon and pesto for $13; shrimp roll with spiced aioli and tarragon for $14; and TENN Dogg with slaw, jalapenos and hot sauce aioli for $10. 

The bar will regularly host DJs and live musical performances.

TENN on Top’s hours will be 12 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday; and 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.