Assignment 7: Adam

The Glenn Hotel (Marriott) at 110 Marietta Street NW was listed on the NRHP in 2008 as the “Glenn Building” (Photo 1). It has 100 rooms, 17 of which are suites, and 5 2000-square-foot “meeting rooms” on 11 floors. The building was constructed in 1923 and redeveloped, presumably as a hotel, in 2006. Located only blocks from the Phillips Arena, Centennial Park, and the World Center, the Glenn Hotel likely attracts a fair share of tourists, and sporting event and conference attendees. As a “historic hotel”, rooms are not cheap and there is likely a negative connotation associated with it that would deter a certain percent of potential guests (small rooms, the TV won’t swivel….etc). So the clientele likely has enough disposable income that a $200 room charge is reasonable and they find something “romantic” about historic buildings.

I did not feel comfortable taking photos of the inside (it was check out time), so I will explain it and include an interior picture from their website. The ground floor opens onto Marietta and Spring Streets through tall, wide windows. A restaurant, “Glenn’s Kitchen” (mid-range “casual yet sophisticated”) occupies the SE half of the first floor. There is an entrance off of Marietta Street. It is quite small and marked only with a wall plaque. The interior space is “terraced”, that is, upon entering from Marietta Street, one can take a left and enter the restaurant; straight leads up a couple stairs to the elevators and stairs for hotel room “SkyLounge” access; and right leads down a couple steps to a bar and lounge area, “Living Room”, with informal seating arrangement and full windows onto Marietta Street. The décor is sleek, contemporary, and also incorporates a cacophony of faux-natural textures (stone, mostly, and wood; Photo 2). The “front desk” is tucked away in the NW corner of the building inside the “rear” entrance which is conveniently placed with access to the parking garage via a snug courtyard (Photo 3). Guests and patrons are offered off-street parking in the parking deck located behind the hotel and accessible via either Spring or Marietta Streets. Hotel guests and daily/nightly traffic for the bars and restaurants are separated with guests unloading and entering through the secondary entrance and “customers” entering on Marietta Street. This seems like a logistical circulation decision. I began to wonder how the rear door was used historically finding it hard to believe it was the “main entrance” for hotel guests. As far as hotel entrances go, the Glenn Hotel’s is understated, but pleasant. The focus is on the inside; hospitality and entertainment, i.e. food and drink.

The choice of name for their street level bar and lounge, “Living Room”, intrigued me. To the wary traveler, a suggestively domestic term may prove inviting. The space provides internet access and a convenient location to wait for friends or colleagues before pursuing other activities in the restaurant, the rooftop lounge, or beyond. To suggest the “Living Room” resembles a residential living room is ridiculous, but that is not the point. It is an invitation to socialize and to relax in a common space. The space is designed more like a lounge with short tables and chairs, a bar along a wall with stools, and a row of couches/plush seats. In this respect, the hotel is encouraging, and potentially capitalizing on, customer socializing. Especially for the sport fan and convention attendees, a common space to meet larger groups, discuss, celebrate, mingle, network, is an attractive amenity. And why not serve booze?