project watch

WATG’s Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Design Stands Convention on Its Head
The Seattle office of international destination-design firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) served as design architect for the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, working with Kuala Lumpur-based GDP Architects as the architect of record and Bilkey Llinas Design Ltd., Hong Kong, as the interior designer. The 40-story five-star hotel and mixed-use development is located in downtown Kuala Lumpur. When guests enter the hotel, they will immediately notice that things are different: Instead of being on the ground level, the hotel lobby awaits them at the top of the building. When guests come to check in, they will ride the express elevators to the lobby, where impressive 360-degree views of downtown Kuala Lumpur will greet them. “We are thrilled to be working on this exciting urban-core hospitality project,” says Ron Mitchell, senior vice president of WATG and lead architect on the project. “The upside-down hotel concept will truly enhance the guest experience.” The building will also house service apartments and offices. Currently in design development, the project is slated to open to the public in December 2010.

AIA Potomac Valley Awards Great Architecture
The AIA Potomac Valley Annual Design Award Competition takes place each year in October. Eight architects from AIA North Carolina served as jurors and presented one Grand Honor Award, five Honor Awards, six Merit Awards, and nine Citations at the chapter's Design Awards Banquet in Washington, D.C., in October. The jury split the accolades among three residences and three educational facilities.