International Wood International Wood 2008 | Page 60

Destination: Waterfalls Wood and Luxury The East Coast’s Newest Convention Destination Wraps Guests in the Warmth of Wood N o one likes a dull destination, not even business trav- elers. If you’re going to be stuck in a hotel for three days worth of meetings, wouldn’t you rather it be unique, beautiful, and even fun? Competition for these events is increasingly fierce, and hospitality companies know that the quality and comfort of their properties can make – or break – their new and repeat business. This is why Gaylord Hotels is building its brand as the ultimate destination for extraor- dinary meetings and conventions, complete with first-class dining and entertainment, no matter which of its properties you choose. The company has just finished what it calls its “crown jewel,” the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on the outskirts of Washington DC, part of the 300-acre National Harbor project. Designed by the global architecture, design and consulting firm Gensler, it has 2,000 guest rooms, 470,000 square feet of function space, a full-service spa, three independently operated restaurants, three bars and a coffee shop. 60 i m p o r t e d wood Gaylord is all about regional “theming” and capturing the local flavor. The Gaylord National is right on the Potomac River, near Washington, DC and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Water and 19th century architecture are major themes, and weighed heavily on the de- signers’ choice of exotic wood species like waterfall bubinga (Guibourtia spp.), sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum), and Brazilian ironwood (Tabebuia spp.). “The idea of the wharf and the town square, of connecting water- front from outside to inside, is very important to the theme here,” says Gensler architect Donald J. Ghent, Jr., AIA. Ghent was the key prin- cipal on site at the Gaylord National project. “The 18-story 1.6-acre atrium is a shell for the themed environment, and it’s designed to bring in as much natural light as possible to support the growth of the trees and understory plantings. Water, in the form of a meandering river, is used as the main feature to soften the space up.” Also in the atrium, you’ll find a two-story replica of a Colonial-era mercantile shop, and a Federalist-style farmhouse, both of which serve as gift shops.