Designed by San Francisco-based design firm Hornberger + Worsell, the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe hotel is situated mid-mountain on Northstar Resort. David Schaffer, principal and director of Sustainability for OZ Architecture, the Architects of Record for the project, stated that the resort has been designed to reflect the mountain, and offers a very natural feel to each space.
Hornberger + Worstell’s design pays tribute to the great mountain lodges originally built in the West at the turn of the century. The Great Room with its three-storey high granite fireplace, captures the sophisticated yet rustic tenor of the building. The hotel features a 17,000 square feet spa and fitness centre called ‘Highlands Spa’ featuring 16 treatment rooms with treatments and therapies themed around water and the woods.
Some of the LEED recognized features of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe include: recycling/re-use of construction waste amounting to 88% of all construction waste; reduced building footprint; daylight and views to 75% of the building; on-site re-use of rock for retaining walls; on-site re-use of trees for mulch; use of recycled materials; use of local materials; ‘Green Cleaning’ programme; construction erosion and sediment control; off-site parking programme; and provision for bike racks and lockers for employees.
Some other sustainable features are: stormwater retention management; minimized heat island effect by providing shade and light-coloured paving; water efficient landscaping; meeting of ASHRAE 90.1 energy standard; verification of mechanical system performance; reduced CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) in HVAC equipment; operable windows for reduced energy consumption and increased user comfort; and multiple thermostats for increased user control & comfort.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, the first new-build resort to open in the Lake Tahoe area in decades, features 11,000 square feet of meeting space, a 6,000 square foot ballroom, and a 20,000 square foot spa with Sierra views. It has 170 guest rooms, 84 residences, and 78 deeded fractional residences.
Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers designed the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems at the resort while Terrasan directed the landscape design.
