PRNewswire SAN FRANCISCO Dec. 1 :

KMD Architects, an internationally acclaimed architecture firm
headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Mexico City, has just
completed their newest project: The W Hotel in Mexico City.

According to Carlos Fernandez del Valle, KMD Mexico`s lead architect on
the project, “The W Hotel in Mexico City is the second W outside of the
United States and the first in Latin America. Our design embraces local
materials, culture and blends modern design to add drama to the city`s
skyline. This new landmark is visible from virtually anywhere in the city.”

KMD incorporated local materials into the facade that included “recinto”
(volcanic rock) and juxtaposed these finishes with those used in the rest
of the upscale contemporary Polanco neighborhood. The result is a
contemporary design that pays homage to the contemporary sophistication of
a vibrant Mexico City while suggesting the roots of the city`s prehispanic
past.

The hotel has two distinct areas as viewed from the street: The first is a
five-level crystal multi-use room designed to be modularly flexible
depending upon what`s needed. The lobby, bars and restaurants fit together
by the skillful manipulation of height and penetration of spaces. The
business center and meeting rooms and the multiple use rooms are located
on two levels. These spaces work well together sharing double height
ceilings and a stairway. The effect creates spaces that can be combined as
one large room or separated into two distinct spaces depending upon what
is required.
The W`s Spa located at the fifth level has a traditional brick-lined Aztec
sauna called a temascal. There is also a massage area and juice bar.

On top of the crystal base sits the 20-level tower that holds 237 luxury
rooms and suites that are available either as corner suites or lofts.

A special design feature of the W Hotel is the layout of the rooms. The
rooms divide the large spaces into a work area, relaxation area, a
comfortable sleeping zone and a large bathroom complete with hammock,
natural light and spectacular views of the city. KMD designed nine Loft
suites to dazzle guests with cathedral ceilings, expansive views of
Chapultepec Park, and other amenities like green glass showers and flat
screen TVs mounted above the beds. The “Cool Corner” suites also offer
terraces. However, for a truly opulent experience, the “Extreme Wow” suite
has terraces, a soaring living room, and an adjacent “play room” complete
with a raised platform covered in pillows, a wet bar, a kitchen and two
bedrooms.
“The W represents a tremendous opportunity to add to the cosmopolitan
culture of Mexico City. It is certain to become a popular destination that
will create a sense of place for this new hotspot. The tower`s
iconographic design also symbolizes Mexico City`s emergence as a city with
world-class architecture, as well as cultural diversity,” according to
Juan Diego Perez- Vargas, KMD `s International Group Director.

Mr. Perez-Vargas added, “The design echoes KMD`s central philosophy of
what it calls Placemaking: The notion that each of its buildings has a
unique personality that is in harmony with its surroundings and attracts
people to use the space in their daily lives. In the W Hotel, the
architecture promotes interaction with the community with highly usable
public spaces that flow seamlessly into each other and to the outside. As
a result, it offers an unusual versatility that accommodates gatherings
from an intimate wedding to a large business conference.
About KMD:

KMD designs have been completed in over 25 US states, France, Japan,
Korea, Spain, Germany, England and Mexico and have won over 200 design
awards, including over thirty-five from the AIA (American Institute of
Architects). Notable KMD designs can be seen at Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly
Hills; Nadya Park in Nagoya, Japan; Brigham & Women`s Hospital in
Massachusetts; The Oakland Federal Buildings in Oakland, California; Sun
Microsystems in California; The Cleveland Arcade in Cleveland, Ohio; The
Price Center at The University of California, San Diego; and Ford Field
(Detroit Lions Stadium) in Detroit.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans commended KMD earlier this year for
their outstanding work in Mexico. KMD`s Mexico City office opened one year
before NAFTA was enacted.
KMD has designed more than 15 projects in Mexico, including such notable
hotels and resorts as La Solana, a Rosewood resort in Punta Mita, Puerto
Vallarta; and the St. Regis Hotel and Villas in El Tamarindo Resort,
Jalisco. It has also applied its expertise in corporate design to a
variety of projects, including 3M Mexico Headquarters; DirecTV; Goodrich
Corporate Offices; Hewlett Packard Headquarters in Guadalajara. Many of
those designs will also be on display at the grand opening.

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