Two Historic Buildings Unite & Reopen as the Newest Member of Provenance Hotels Following Complete Restoration
With a nod to the past and a look toward the future of hospitality in the Pacific Northwest, Woodlark, Portland’s newest hotel in the heart of downtown, opened its doors on Saturday, December 15, 2018. The highly-anticipated, 150-room hotel, has breathed new life into two buildings – the Cornelius Hotel and the Woodlark Building – and joined them together to reclaim the historic Cornelius Hotel’s original moniker and offer guests the ideal combination of sophistication and warmth as the city’s modern-day “House of Welcome.”
“Ever walk into a hotel and feel instantly at home? Woodlark is that,” says Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels. “It’s true when they say, ‘it takes a village.’ Together with our partners, from NBP Capital to our design team and our co-conspirators, we have created something truly special not only for visitors coming to experience our city but for Portlanders, too. Woodlark pushes the boundaries of what we’re offering in the hospitality space and raises the bar on the hotel experience in our hometown. It truly is the House of Welcome.”
“Woodlark holds a special place in our heart, as we’ve worked with Provenance Hotels over the last several years to bring this hotel to life,” says Lauren Noecker of NBP Capital. “It is a hotel that speaks as much to the growth and change that Portland has undergone, as to its history. We wanted to ensure each investment made, each design decision, and partner we aligned with reflect Portland’s past, present and most importantly its future.”
UPON ARRIVAL
The design at Woodlark, as imagined by Architect of Record R&A Architecture & Design, Inc. of Culver City, Calif., and the teams at
Oculus Inc. (formerly Staicoff Design Company) of Portland, and Smith Hanes Studioof Atlanta, seamlessly blends two historic buildings, demonstrating the power of partnership, collaboration, and community. Each building was restored following strict guidelines to maintain their registry status and adaptively reused to bring forth individual nuances and characteristics.
Flooded with natural light from skylights in the elevator landing and floor-to-ceiling windows that encircle the building and create a connection with the city’s bustling streets, the lobby sets the tone for the hotel experience. Guests are greeted with high-design touches from black-and-white cement tiles and warm grey woods to lush plants and richly appointed details, including brass inlay and custom brass and hand-blown glass light fixtures. Painted wood panels made from recessed molding nod to the original walls of the historic building. A communal table and 10-foot-long sofas encourage comfort and conversation among guests and visitors.
Tapping a network of local tastemakers, Woodlark features an array of amenities and quintessential experiences for guests. Colibri, a custom floral design studio, plant store, and event space in NE Portland was founded by James Beard Foundation winning chef, Naomi Pomeroy. The Colibri team have transformed part of the Woodlark lobby into flower shop with custom flower arrangements in a glittering brass and glass case. Available for guests and locals to purchase, it is not only a showcase for their artistry but also an amenity for the city.
Coffee enthusiasts can stop at Woodlark’s wrap-around check-in desk and visit Good Coffee’s first downtown location for its signature selection of roasted coffees. Here, Chef Doug Adams and the Bullard kitchen will oversee a to-go breakfast menu that will introduce Portland diners and visitors alike to Adams’ interpretation of Texas-style Kolaches, as well as an assortment of house-made pastries.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The design direction for the hotel was led by Christian Robert and Brooks Atwood of R&A. The guestrooms are designed to be a home-away-from-home for design lovers, trendsetters, tastemakers and in-the-know travelers seeking a fresh take on the classic hotel experience through the lens of modern Portland. Bright and refined with a dramatic edge, the custom-designed furnishings in Woodlark’s 150 guestrooms feature an array of lush velvets, natural woods, soft white details, and pops of deep oceanic blue. Taking cues from the city’s natural surroundings, a striking custom-designed wallpaper illustrating flora found in Portland’s Forrest Park and framed botanical works by featured artist, Imogen Cunningham, complete the look.
The intimate boutique hotel will offer 11 room variations, including a Loft Suite with a spiral staircase and Woodlark Suites, featuring sumptuous sleeping quarters behind a glass wall with 270-degree views of Portland and the West Hills.
Each features luxury 100% Egyptian Dream Cotton Mascioni Italian linens, plush bath robes, MiN bath amenities, a 49-inch high-definition LCD flat panel television with DirectTV and Chromecast capabilities, integrated charging options with USB, tablet and standard ports, Urbanears Lotsen Bluetooth, high-speed wireless Internet access, Cloudnola gold clock, hand-held clothing steamer, hairdryer, Salt & Straw artisan ice cream menu, 4 p.m. late checkout ($50), and a locally-inspired Honor Bar including Woodblock Chocolates. Guests in lofts and suites will enjoy soaring 15-foot ceilings and elevated bedroom spaces along with added options that include a pre-made cocktail mix and Matcha Tea making kits, courtesy of Smith Teamakers.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Woodlark’s convivial public spaces will offer a compendium of food and beverage outlets helmed by Chef Doug Adams, in partnership with hospitality maven Jennifer Quist, including Bullard, a restaurant with an emphasis on wood-fire cooking and smoke featuring dishes rooted in Texas and refined in Oregon; and Abigail Hall, an intimate, 40-seat living room-style bar that will be in the original library and Ladies Reception Hall of the Cornelius Hotel.
EVENTS + ADDED AMENITIES
Guest have complimentary access to the 24-hour, state-of-the-art fitness center, redefining the training experience with the latest industry innovations and advancements such as MIRROR – an interactive workout mirror with all-in-one responsive LCD display, a traverse rock-climbing wall, treadmills, recumbent bikes, high performing Peloton spin bicycles, ellipticals, and more. Woodlark is the first in the nation to introduce MIRROR within a hotel space.
Woodlark offers 2,160-square-feet of meeting space in the lower level of the hotel, which boasts a dedicated street-level entrance that can be utilized by groups. All meeting spaces will offer state-of-art AV capabilities and catering by Bullard.
Woodlark opening rates start at $145 per room, per night. Subject to availability. For more information and regular updates, please visit www.woodlarkhotel.com.
About Provenance Hotels
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Provenance Hotels specializes in independent hotels with intentional, deeply integrated art stories. Imbued with the soul of the cities in which they thrive, these Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Award-winning hotels showcase trend-setting amenities, creative collaborations with local co-conspirators and innovative food & beverage. The portfolio includes properties in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Wash., New Orleans, Nashville, Stillwater, MN., and Boston, and the newly-opened Woodlark in Portland and The Revolution Hotel in Boston. Projects are also in the works in Hermosa Beach, Calif., Fort Wayne, Ind., Milwaukee and Madison, Wisc. The company can be found online at www.provenancehotels.com.
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