The Olin Hotel will accommodate a much-needed hospitality project within San Jose, CA. One appealing opportunity presented by the site was its proximity to the commercial hub Santana Row, which is frequented by both tourists and locals. The site is approximately 100,000 square feet, which is relatively small for a hotel, therefore consolidating the program and finding creative ways to maximize space was critical. Structurally, the project is a combination of type I and IIIA construction – concrete podium for levels 1 and 2, and 5 levels of wood construction above. The project includes a single level of underground parking.

The hotel’s material palette includes brick, tile, fiber cement, horizontal wood grain metal panels, and standing seam metal panels. Some important design features of the project include a podium pool over the ground floor, a porte cochere, and lots of glass/ transparency at the ground floor to attract pedestrians. The general layout of the hotel was strategically organized around neighborhood engagement and to help arrivals have a clear and safe journey. Additionally, the ground floor lobby and active spaces are all concentrated at the corner of Olin and along Winchester Blvd, to engage with the public and create direct access to and from Santana Row.