This morning, Donald J. Trump, president and chairman of The Trump Organization, and Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, executive vice presidents of development and acquisitions, unveiled details of the Trump Hotel Collection's plans for its $200 million redevelopment of The Old Post Office in Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Vincent Gray, and Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service for the United States General Services Administration Dorothy Robyn were also gathered to celebrate the occasion.
In the 18 months since the Trump Hotel Collection was selected by the GSA as developer of the landmark, Donald and Ivanka Trump have been working alongside architects Beyer Blinder Belle, interior design consultants Hirsch Bedner Associates, and historic advisor and preservation specialists John Cullinane & Associates to create the design of Trump International Hotel, The Old Post Office, Washington, D.C.
Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2014 with an expected completion in late 2015. Good to know: The hotel will pursue LEED green building certification, which provides the framework for building and operating sustainable hotels.
Public Areas
Trump will reinstate the 11th Street pedestrian entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue, which has been closed to vehicular traffic, and will serve as the driveway to the hotel’s canopied grand entrance. Without touching the historic building, the new steel and glass porte cochere cantilevers in both directions, creating a glass ceiling.
“The new entrance to Trump International Hotel and The Grand Ballroom will be a distinctly new architectural composition at the end of the reinstated 11th Street,” explained Hany Hassan, partner at Beyer Blinder Belle. We hear the structure will use backlit marble and limited mullion glass.
Inside, guests will walk into The Cortile, a nine-story atrium that will function as the hotel’s gathering place, with a grand lobby and lounge. The space is expected to include a water sculpture as well as brass and crystal chandeliers.
The ground level will also include world-class restaurants and luxury retailers on the corners of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Guestrooms
The hotel's guestrooms will average more than 600 square feet, making them the largest in Washington, D.C. The five- and six-fixture bathrooms will have six-foot tubs, wood vanities with marble tops and polished brass hardware. In addition, two Presidential Suites will be located in the historic former offices of the Postmaster General. At more than 3,000 square feet each, the three-bedroom suites will have views of Pennsylvania Avenue and the National Mall, original fireplaces, wood doors and moldings, and unique amenities such as separate dining room with pantry and service entry, his-and-her walk-in closets, private sauna and steam room, two-person shower, and VIP direct-elevator access.
Meetings & Events
The hotel will offer a total of 39,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 13,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, the largest among D.C. luxury hotels. Visitors will be able to enter from the historic building through its entrance on 10th street and the main entry on 11th Street. The historic Library, meanwhile, will have 25-foot coffered ceiling, high arched windows, ornate columns, intricate millwork, hardwood floors, velvet draperies and hand-woven area rugs. Glass-front bookcases will line the walls, while leather club chairs and executive task chairs will mix business and comfort. With an entry point off 12th Street, the 3,500-square-foot Library will serve as a junior ballroom, large boardroom or informal meeting space.
Clock Tower
At the pinnacle of The Old Post Office building, the Clock Tower houses the official United States Bells of Congress, a bicentennial gift from England celebrating the end of the Revolutionary War. With its 360-degree view of the city, this National Park Service-run destination draws as many as 1,500 visitors each day. A dedicated entrance on the south side of the building through C Street will welcome visitors, and feature an Old Post Office museum, exhibition center and retail outlets.
And finally, the hotel will also have a 4,000-square-foot Mar-a-Lago Spa by Ivanka Trump.