 ver
since Mayor Mike Fahey took office last year, there has been
considerable controversy over the new convention center anchor
hotel. Former Mayor Hal Daub signed a letter of intent with
Marriott Hotels just days before he left office but the new mayor
disagreed with spending the $94 million it would have taken to
build a 28-story Marriott high-rise. Mayor Fahey originally favored
the less expensive Hilton 7-story design but his decision was met
with much disagreement amongst Omaha City Council members.
After several months of debating the subject, a compromise was
finally reached that assured the city council that the less
expensive Hilton was the best choice. A decision was made to add
one story and 50 rooms to the original plan, making it more
appealing. The simple red-brick design that was originally proposed
was also met with negative feed-back so Mayor Fahey appointed a
community design committee to work closely with the architects -
RTKL, a Baltimore-based firm in redesigning the hotel. Most council
members preferred a more sleeker, contemporary building that would
compliment the futuristic convention center-arena.
 The
new design, released yesterday, includes a stucco finish and a
glass front to tie in with the modern look of the convention center
it will be connected to. It will have 450 upscale rooms and suites,
including 1 presidential suite, 2 executive suites, 9 deluxe suites
and 11 parlor suites. There will also be 14,500 square feet of
meeting space and a 10,000 square foot ballroom. A skybridge will
connect the new anchor hotel to the convention center-arena.
Not everyone agrees, however, that this is the best design they
could've come up with. Some folks feel the design looks like a
1960's building that has been renovated to look more contemporary.
At any rate, groundbreaking for the new hotel is tentatively
scheduled for March with a completion date expected in early
2004.  |
