Hines, the international real estate firm, and Qatari Diar, the real estate development entity of the Qatar Investment Authority (the co-developers of CityCenterDC), Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Worldwide’s (NYSE: HLT) smart luxury hotel brand, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed today the start of construction of the Conrad Washington, D.C., a 360-room luxury hotel with 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space at CityCenterDC; the landmark 10-acre, mixed-use development located in the heart of the nation’s capital. Initial occupancy for the hotel is expected in the first quarter of 2019.

In addition, Hines, Qatari Diar and Conrad Hotels & Resorts are pleased to announce that Chef Bryan Voltaggio, of Fredrick, MD, will be the signature chef for the hotel restaurant, responsible for the concept and menu. Voltaggio is the executive chef and owner (with his business partner, Hilda Staples) of several acclaimed restaurants in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland, including VOLT, RANGE, AGGIO, Lunchbox and Family Meal. A James Beard Foundation Award finalist, Voltaggio was also a finalist on Top Chef Season 6 and Top Chef Masters Season 5, and is the co-author of VOLT.Ink and author of HOME.

The Conrad Washington, D.C. marks the seventh building developed by Hines and Qatari Diar at CityCenterDC. Not only does this represent an additional investment by Hines and Qatari Diar in the CityCenter project, it demonstrates the continued commitment to long-term investment in the nation’s capital.

The Conrad Washington, D.C. will further enhance the architectural excellence at CityCenterDC. The lead designers for the Conrad Washington, D.C. are Herzog & de Meuron, led by five senior partners including Pritzker Prize Laureates Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, with HKS Architects, Inc. as architect of record. The elegant hotel interiors are being designed by Rottet Studio. Turner Construction Company is the project’s general contractor.

“We are excited to break ground on the Conrad Washington, D.C. because it means more jobs and opportunities for District residents and businesses,” said Mayor Bowser. “This development is another positive signal of our growing economy and our emergence as a national leader in hospitality and tourism.”

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to continue our successful partnership with Qatari Diar on our additional investment in the Conrad Washington, D.C.,” said Hines Managing Director Michael Allen, project officer for the Hines/Qatari Diar master developer team.

Commenting on behalf of Qatari Diar Americas, Fabien Toscano, chief executive officer, said, “Commencement of construction on the Conrad Washington, D.C. is a historic milestone for the CityCenterDC project. With exceptional hotel rooms and exclusive retail elements, this new venture is in keeping with our vision of reflecting local characteristics and influences to create a destination designed to enhance the experience of everyone who stays and visits, and to inspire the way they choose to live, work and play for future generations. We are excited for this next phase of the project as we continue to watch it grow into a world-class development set to become a new landmark in one of the world’s most influential cities.”

“We are also pleased to work with Hilton Worldwide as our hotel partner at CityCenterDC,” said Hines Managing Director Jonathan Fuisz. “The Conrad flag has an excellent reputation in the luxury segment, both domestically and internationally, and we are excited to bring the brand to D.C.”

“Conrad is known for creating inspired experiences for our guests in gateway cities and the most sought-after destinations,” said John Vanderslice, global head, Conrad Hotels & Resorts. “Washington, D.C. is one of the few epicenters of political, cultural and economic power in the world, which makes this future hotel the perfect destination for global luxury travelers. We look forward to working with Hines and Qatari Diar introducing Conrad Washington, D.C. to the nation’s capital.”

The initial phase of CityCenterDC is comprised of 191,000 square feet of retail space, 216 for-sale residential units, 458 apartment units, 522,000 square feet of office space, and public open space that was initially occupied in December 2013. CityCenter’s master plan design was led by London-based Foster + Partners, the internationally acclaimed studio for architecture, design and planning, which also designed the office and residential condominium buildings.

The Conrad Washington, D.C. will add an additional 30,000 square feet of retail space that will complement the already successful luxury retail component of the first phase of CityCenterDC. CityCenterDC features a unique mix of local, national and international retail brands, cafes and restaurants with extensive street frontage. Several retail tenants have already entered into negotiations for space in the Conrad Washington, D.C. project.

Hines and Qatari Diar have committed to certain goals established for the project with the District of Columbia for employment of D.C. residents and utilization of District-based businesses:

• Job Creation. Conservatively, the project is estimated to create more than 450 full-time positions during the development and construction period. Following construction, 350 permanent full-time positions are anticipated, along with approximately 200 indirect “spin-off” jobs created as a result of the impact of the project on the surrounding community.
• First Source Commitment. At least 51 percent of new hires related to the design and construction of the project will be District residents.
• CBE Commitment. The development will create significant opportunities for District of Columbia Certified Business Entities (CBE). At least 35 percent of eligible development and construction services will be performed using CBE contractors. CBE development and construction related contracting is estimated to be more than $60 million. In addition, CBE equity partners own 20 percent of the developer equity in the project.

About CityCenterDC 

CITYCENTERDC (www.citycenterdc.com) is a unique, pedestrian-friendly, 10-acre mixed-use development, located in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C., on a 4.5-block parcel bounded by New York Avenue, 9th, H and 11th Streets, NW. The initial phase of the project consists of than 191,000 square feet of retail space situated at the base of six buildings that encompass 522,000 square feet of office space, 458 rental apartment units, and 216 condominium units, a public park, a central plaza and pedestrian-oriented streets and alleyways.

Foster + Partners, an international studio for architecture, planning and design based in London, served as the master-plan architect and the design architect for the office and for-sale-housing components. Shalom Baranes Associates, P.C., a Washington-based architectural firm, served as the associate master-plan architect and led the design effort on the residential rental component.

Construction of the project commenced in March 2011, with initial occupancy in December 2013 for the residential buildings and early 2014 for the office and retail components. A joint venture between Clark Construction Group, Smoot Construction of Washington, D.C., and McKissack and McKissack was the general contractor. The Conrad Washington, D.C. is under construction with initial occupancy expected in the first quarter of 2019.

The third component of CityCenterDC will be constructed by the Gould Property Company and its partner, Oxford Properties Group and will consist of 500,000 square feet of office space and 40,000 square feet of additional retail. A start date for this component has not been set.

About Hines 

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 182 cities in 20 countries. Hines has $89.1 billion of assets under management, including $42.5 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $46.6 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. The firm has 109 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,126 properties, totaling over 351 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 457 properties, representing over 193 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. 

About Qatari Diar 

QATARI DIAR is a global leader in sustainable real estate, building landmark projects of unrivalled scope and vision. We create vibrant communities dedicated to capturing the hearts and imaginations of the people we serve. These developments are conceived from our commitment to preserving and reflecting local characters and traditions and our visions have created places with a sense of identity and purpose where people aspire to live, work and visit.

Qatari Diar is currently involved in over 39 signature projects in more than 21 countries around the world, with a combined value of over $35 billion. We have created some outstanding, world-class real estate developments in landmark locations across Europe and the Americas. These include several projects in prime locations in London, Paris, Panama, Tunisia and Washington, D.C.

Qatari Diar seeks to harness the world’s greatest architectural and design talent in order to create sustainable communities that will stand the test of time.

About Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Conrad Hotels & Resorts is the destination for the new generation of smart luxury travelers for whom life, business and pleasure seamlessly intersect. Conrad offers its guests an innovative way to Stay Inspired through a curated collection of 1, 3 or 5 hour experiences, available through www.StayInspired.com or through the intuitive Conrad Concierge mobile app. Consisting of 26 properties across five continents, Conrad is part of Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company.

About Herzog & de Meuron

Established in 1978, Herzog & de Meuron is a Swiss architectural office led by five senior partners that is known for its wide range of projects, from the small scale of a private home to the large scale of urban design. Many of their projects are highly recognized public facilities, such as their stadiums and museums; they have also completed several distinguished private projects including apartment buildings, offices and factories. The company’s landmark projects comprise the Olympic Stadium in Beijing (also known as the Bird’s Nest), The Tate Modern in London and the iconic 56 Leonard Street, a new condominium tower in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood. Herzog & de Meuron have received numerous awards for their work including The Pritzker Architecture Prize (USA) in 2001.

About HKS Architects, Inc.

HKS Hospitality Group specializes in the design of sophisticated urban hotels, unique destination resorts and luxurious spas, entertainment, gaming and convention hotels, boutique properties, hospitality interiors and world-class golf clubhouses. With construction underway on five continents, HKS’ hospitality practice is ranked as one of the top in the nation and the world, according to BD World Architecture, Hotel Business and Hotel Design. Operating from 24 offices worldwide, the firm has designed projects in 45 countries, garnering numerous awards and coverage in national and international publications.

About Rottet Studio

Rottet Studio, an international architecture and interior design firm specializing in corporate, hospitality and multifamily projects for the world’s leading companies and brands, designed the interior concept for the Conrad Washington, D.C. The concept carefully blends the historic significance of D.C.’s early American design with the elegant contemporary design of Herzog & de Meuron producing a project fully integrated from exterior to interior experience. Rottet Studio’s previous hospitality projects include The Surrey Hotel and Loews Regency Hotel in New York City, The Beverly Hills Hotel Presidential Bungalows in Beverly Hills, California, and the St Regis Aspen Resort and Residences in Aspen, Colorado.

About Turner Construction Company

With more than 40 years of experience in the Greater Washington area, Turner’s Mid-Atlantic office has developed a reputation for high-quality execution of many of the region’s land mark projects. Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company. Founded in 1902, Turner first made its mark on the industry pioneering the use of steel-reinforced concrete for general building, which enabled the company to deliver safer, stronger, and more efficient buildings to clients. The company continues to embrace emerging technologies and offers an increasingly diverse set of services. With an annual construction volume of $11 billion, Turner is the largest builder in the United States, ranking first in the major market segments of the building construction field.