Le Méridien Hotel

Silverwest Hotels selected HOK to design a rebranding, repositioning and renovation of a Sheraton hotel in downtown Clayton, just outside of St. Louis.

HOK’s design transforms the property into a new 268-room Le Méridien Hotel that celebrates the brand’s French heritage and the strong connection of St. Louis, which was named for the famed French king, to France. The design evokes a modern “pied–à–terre,” a home away from home with a residential sensibility.

To refresh the 17-story building’s exterior, HOK designed all new glazing work with a Mondrian-inspired window mullion pattern, increasing natural light into the guestrooms by 30 percent. The redesigned porte-cochere entry gives the building a modern, friendly feel.

As guests enter their room, they are greeted by a bespoke headboard design reminiscent of a Parisian bedroom changing screen. Inspired by a 1960s drafting table, the counter height desk has a lightweight swivel stool. A circular mirror doubles as a dry vanity. Bringing in regional influences, the nightstands have asymmetrical “arch”-like floor and table lamps. The overall color palette is grounded by true American Midwest denim blue and pops of bold Hermes’ orange.

The third-floor lobby design connects guests to both the St. Louis locale and the brand’s French inspiration. Check-in desks echo French writing desks, accented by subtly arching standing lamps of mixed metals and custom tambour wood tables.

Steps from the lobby, guests pass the Inner Parlour restaurant. In the main seating area, a custom ceiling laylight evokes the feeling of a stained-glass skylight found in a French café. On one side of the European-inspired bar, an abstract custom “arch” mural greets guests from the entry.

The design transformed a seldom-used, glass-enclosed pool and adjacent fitness room on the fifth floor into a new outdoor pool with an open terrace overlooking downtown Clayton. A 17^th-floor storage area has been converted into a daylight-filled fitness center.

HOK provided architectural, interior and exterior lighting design services.