Sawyer & Company Unveils Design of Canopy by Hilton Atlanta Midtown
New York-based luxury hospitality design firm Sawyer & Company is pleased to unveil the inspiration behind an eagerly anticipated forthcoming project – the Canopy by Hilton Atlanta Midtown, a brand new mixed-use rental and commercial hotel tower. Located at 1414 West Peachtree, the Canopy by Hilton Midtown Atlanta explores the different layers of art, food, and iconography integrated within the Midtown Atlanta neighborhood: the graffiti artists, home grown celebrity chefs, and numerous literary inspirations. The Canopy – partially-owned and operated by Concord Hospitality – is home to 176 guest rooms including four suites, spread throughout 109,300 square feet of new build construction, and is highlighted by 12,650 square feet of sublime public spaces.
“The design language intends to juxtapose the raw, industrial forms derived from iconic signage and structures throughout Atlanta against subtle design details, which take their cue from the art and food influences in the Midtown area,” says Sawyer & Company. “In short, the narrative developed by our team and told throughout the space focuses on celebrating the local art community in Atlanta, with the interior architecture serving as the canvas for the art installations throughout the public spaces.”
The project is situated at the intersection of the Savannah College of Art & Design, The High Museum, and the Woodruff Arts Center – the cultural art center of Atlanta. The arrival moment in the lobby features a long, full height wall installation by a local mural artist. A three-dimensional metal and wooden screen is layered on top and “peels” off to reveal the entire mural. The sculptural stone reception desk anchors the arrival area, and the back wall of the reception, with guest amenities for sale, picks up on the faceted wall, wrapping up and over to echo the overpasses clad with graffiti along the Beltline.
The Business and Social Zone is conceptualized as an “artist’s studio” with various tables and seating that takes inspiration from an artist’s flexible space, fully conceptualized for guest use. A unique feature of the Canopy brand, the Transfer Lounge, sits just behind the reception area, and is fully equipped with a shower, changing area, and lockers – available for guests that have an early morning or late evening meeting and need to freshen up before or after check-in or check-out – a thoughtful convenience that echoes the brand’s focus on guests’ needs.
The Retreat, an area between the business area and the bar, features materiality that changes to a more tailored, saturated wood look with residential seating around a large, two-sided fireplace – ideal for treasured quiet moments while traveling. A butcher-block installation along the wall is printed with names of local artists and artwork, and screens of stacked canvases with paint dripping across are curated by a local artist and separate the space between the Retreat area and the bar, resulting in a more intimate experience.
The bar at the Canopy by Hilton Atlanta Midtown, the Canopy Central, another feature consistent throughout the Canopy brand, is designed by the Sawyer & Company team to transition throughout the day, from artisanal breakfast in the morning, cocktails and small bites in the afternoon, and finally to a more dynamic, energized space in the evening. Patterned concrete floor tile with patina and white subway tile on the back wall is contrasted by rich butcher-block wood accents at the bar’s front, juxtaposed with a copper chicken-wire framework behind which doubles up as an open liquor and glassware display. An oversized mirror is placed on the wall at the end of the bar to extend the feel of the space and reflect the experience at the bar, whose furnishings are eclectic and playful in a natural palette and materiality, including an oversized banquette that anchors the space with large graphics reminiscent of stamped canvas sacks.
As the guest heads to the guestroom levels, the experience of art starts to interact on a more personal level, and on a more intimate scale. The soft, clean guestroom palette utilizes warm wood tones and lightly hued furnishings to offer a backdrop for inspired moments reflective of an artist’s residence and pulling in the cornucopia of local influences. The entry hall features an open closet with refrigerated drawers, along with a Nespresso machine. The flexible, fresh, and functional bathroom is closed off to the hall with a barn door – maximizing the internal room space and creating an easy flow of movement throughout the room.
Within the Just Right Rooms, the asymmetrical headboard adorned with the quote “Tomorrow is Another Day” canopies out over the bed. Pale blue tones highlight an inset rug in a pattern like brush strokes, surrounded by light oak porcelain plank flooring, resulting in a comforting, residential feel. Custom light fixtures speak to the feel of a photographer or painter’s studio, echoing the artistic vibe throughout the property. Across from the large headboard, a desk with “left over” paint markings on glass (inspired by a work bench) sit below a colorful peg board featuring the Coca Cola logo in a playful way, as well as a map to the city’s current must-see destinations.
As the Canopy by Hilton Atlanta Midtown opens to guests, the team at Sawyer & Company is pleased to work with Greystar, a global leader in the investment, development, and management of rental housing properties, on the 176-room project.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Hilton, Concord Hospitality and Sawyer & Company to bring the first Canopy by Hilton to Atlanta,” said John Roberson, Managing Director of Development for Greystar. “The hotel is a natural extension of Midtown’s vibrant, urban neighborhood incorporating thoughtful, local design.” This will be Sawyer & Company's second time working with Concord Hospitality, following 2017’s Canopy by Hilton at the Wharf DC.
“It has been a privilege to work in conjunction with Sawyer & Company and Greystar to ensure that the Canopy by Hilton Atlanta Midtown fits the needs and expectations of all guests visiting the dynamic Midtown neighborhood,” said Mark Laport, president and CEO of Concord Hospitality. “We look forward to welcoming guests to the new property later this year.”
In the meantime, more design work can be found in the Sawyer & Company portfolio, here. For more information on Sawyer & Company and the team’s design philosophy, please visit SawyerCo.design.
