Hotel Verdant

TKWA was hired to assist with the adaptive re-use of this historic retail building into a LEED Gold-rated, 84-room boutique hotel. Built in 1925, the former Zahn’s Department Store was designed by local architect, Edmund B. Funston, and had remained vacant for several decades. This four story, brick-veneered building features a flat roof with prominent parapet with finely detailed glazed terra cotta.

LOCATION

Racine, WI

SCALE

74,365 sf

STATUS

Completed 2023

Key exterior design gestures include a new, four-story addition located immediately to the south, as well as new fifth floor addition to the existing building. Both additions were designed to comply with the National Park Service Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties as a prerequisite to obtain historic tax credits.

Additional project components include a new hotel lobby, cafe with wood burning pizza oven, banquet rooms, fitness room, movie theater, and rooftop bar with outdoor seating.

Hotel Verdant was chosen as the name for the hotel because of its focus on being a green hotel. The term Verdant is in reference both to the color green and to the concept of nature. Sustainable features include geothermal heating/cooling, green roofs and roof mounted solar panels.

TKWA collaborated with The Gettys Group, which provided interior design services for the hotel.