Another week, another ribbon cutting ceremony. This one in Holland, MI where the new Haworth Hotel was declared open for business. The former Haworth Inn and Conference Center was built in 1997 when there were no hotels in downtown Holland. At the time the college wanted to provide a meeting space that the community could also use.
As far as I’m aware, this is a unique arrangement made possible by a couple of factors. Perhaps most importantly, Hope College is located in the heart of downtown Holland, MI and the Haworth Inn and Conference Center was built on the Hope College campus. Now the facility has been totally reimagined in this approximately $7.5 million joint project between Hope College and Haworth.
Dick Haworth, Chairman Emeritus said, “One of the real assets of the college and the community is that the college is right in the center of our town and it’s easy to get from the college to the downtown area, because it’s really part of the downtown. So we wanted to build a facility here where people could meet, where they could stay, and that would mix the college and the downtown and be the front door to the college, so there was a welcoming sense to the community.”
Planning for the Haworth Hotel started as early as 2018 with construction and formal announcements beginning in late 2019. However, sharing the fate of many projects around the world, the project was delayed due to the pandemic; leading to the opening last week.
The design of the renovation was driven by Haworth and led by Patricia Urquiola and her studio. Additional architectural design for the hotel was provided by GMB Architecture + Engineering of Holland. Hope College facility teams and leadership were also instrumental throughout the project.
The Haworth Hotel lobby features a grand spiral staircase connecting the first two floors of the building. In the common areas there are a variety of places to meet, read, chat or wait that create an inviting environment for work and relaxation. The blend of Haworth products in the hotel’s common areas provide training and breakout spaces and combination meeting and dining areas.
The college manages Haworth Hotel with the assistance of a hospitality management firm. There are 48 guestrooms, including a brand-new suite, and 14 conference spaces. The Haworth Hotel ballroom accommodates 350 guests and also serves as a student dining space for Hope College.
Remarking on the furnishings used, Dick Haworth said, “This is the perfect kind of project to demonstrate what we can do with the capability of Haworth today. It’s kind of a fun test to take our products and apply them in a project of our own.”
The original space did not have the social spaces, the expansive lobby, a coffee bar or the many design amenities the new Haworth Hotel has. Many in the community have noted that this really isn’t a renovation – it feels like a brand-new building.
The newly renovated lobby features a grand spiral staircase connecting the first two floors of the building. There are a variety of places to meet, read, chat or wait in the common areas that create an inviting environment for school-work, work-work or just relaxation.
The lounge spaces feature the best Haworth has to offer including global products from Cassina, Cappellini, Poltrona Frau and JANUS et Cie. A Biggby brand coffee bar café and a gift shop are just steps away, along with touchdown workspaces to accommodate quiet time alone. Haworth’s global partner brands are also featured with lighting by Pablo Designs, rugs by GAN and textiles by Kvadrat. In a new twist on the now familiar theme, the Haworth Hotel is a blend of residential and commercial solutions – durable enough to withstand years of accommodating guests but with a vibe that feels like home.
There are 31 double queen rooms, 13 king rooms, 3 ADA accessible rooms and 1 king suite. In the guestrooms, one finds the beautifully designed furnishings of the Haworth Collection and luxury hotel amenities – from comfortable beds, to intuitive desks and a variety of Haworth’s seating options. Bathroom fixtures include the latest “designer” products from Kohler. Guests also have access to an onsite fitness facility.
Haworth clients visiting the company’s global headquarters will experience this signature Patricia Urquiola design as an introduction to the company and the community. This is a great opportunity to engage with Haworth or Hope College in a luxury hospitality environment that captures the hearts of design-focused customers.
I look forward to being a guest there. I might even stay there on a future visit to Zeeland.
