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The Edgewater Set to Reopen After $100 Million Renovation

By M+E Staff

The Edgewater in Madison, Wis. is set to reopen in August 2014 after a $100 million complete renovation and design overhaul.

The renovated property enhances and preserves the external Art Deco architecture, which solidifies The Edgewater’s place among Madison’s historic buildings. The interior evokes a new contemporary décor with modern technology details such as an interactive media wall and touchscreen tables.

Designed by the Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects, the hotel features the complete restoration of the original property’s two existing buildings as well as the addition of a new hotel tower, the Wisconsin Building. The hotel property offers two ballrooms, multiple terrace and outdoor event spaces, four restaurant concepts, a spa, and a one-acre public plaza-all against the backdrops of either the shores of Lake Mendota or the Wisconsin State Capitol.

“Madison’s warmth and cheer inspired the overall aesthetic. The guest experience was always on our mind throughout the design process,” says David Manfredi, founding principle at Elkus Manfredi.”We want arriving at The Edgewater to evoke a feeling of coming home.”

With the hotel’s focus on “authentic hospitality,” the interior spaces offer an environment that varies from modern elegance to rustic comfort. In addition, the architects and designers pay homage to Madison by using indigenous materials to reinforce the sense of place. Additional localized features include an interactive multimedia wall along the Wisconsin Building concourse, works by local artists, and a fireplace in the pre-function area that is constructed of local limestone and wood.

“Reinventing an iconic city landmark is no easy task. The new elements will help create a destination that sets the standard for the highest quality of hospitality in Madison,” says Manfredi.

The Hotel Lobby

The Edgewater lobby opens to a multi-story, flowing sequence of spaces. A new auto court with covered parking leads guests down from Wisconsin Avenue and Langdon Street to The Edgewater’s main entry in the Wisconsin Building. Guests arrive directly at the check-in area, which is designed with wood paneling and gray marble flooring.

Connecting the Wisconsin Building’s entry to the north façade overlooking Lake Mendota is a 93-foot-long concourse where the interactive media wall resides. The wall features a collage of video monitors, display vitrines containing artifacts and images, and photos that tell the history of the city and the hotel.

Meeting & Banquet Facilities

The hotel contains 45,000 square feet of meeting and special event space with a variety of flexible function venues for meetings, galas, weddings and more. The lobby’s grand spiral staircase leads down to a pre-function area called The Nolen Gallery. Additionally, The Veranda is an outdoor space also used for larger events.

The Grand Ballroom contain 6,150 square feet of indoor event space, while more intimate events are held at the Mendota Ballroom. The Mendota Ballroom is located one level below the Grand Ballroom and can hold up to 120 guests.

Other private spaces include the 15th-story Sky Bar atop the Wisconsin building with views of Lake Mendota and the state Capitol.  As a spacious lounge atop the adjacent Langdon Building, the 2,800-square-foot Red Crown Club offers the same views with indoor seating for up to 50. 

Restaurants

The Edgewater will introduce a range of outstanding dining options including:

The Statehouse Restaurant & The Statehouse Bar, located on the seventh floor of the new Wisconsin building, offers world-class culinary talents. In addition, three private dining rooms and a chef’s table provide intimate dining experiences. Outdoor dining is available during the warmer months.

The adjoining Statehouse Bar offers a mix of classic and modern influences with steel bar stools contrasted against geometric wood flooring, printed ceiling, and a grand piano. 

The Café offers coffee and pastries with a custom-designed central table with touch-screen technology, which serves as an interactive scrapbook that connects visitors to their time on the plaza and other venues at the hotel.

On the first two floors of the Langdon Building, The Boathouse, a casual lakeside restaurant at the pier, provides a unique waterfront dining experience. Offering classic casual Wisconsin fare, guests are welcomed by car, foot, bike, boat or other possible transportation.

Finally, guests can enter through the brick arches at the base of the plaza’s grand staircase for grab-and-go offerings at The Icehouse. There will be several serving stations with “grab-and-go” deli sandwiches and snacks as well as a full bar with a wide selection of beers highlighting local Wisconsin breweries.

Guestrooms

The three buildings offer 202 luxurious guest rooms, two presidential suites with panoramic views of Lake Mendota, and 10 studios with kitchenettes-all with lake, Capitol and city views.

With rooms covering three buildings, the guestrooms span a full range of styles and sizes. The Wisconsin Building and the Lake Shoe Building guestrooms’ will have a professional workspace, in-room safe, refrigerator, and a LCD flat-screen television. The bathrooms have marble tiles, large walk-in showers, and toilets located in separate private alcoves. 

With a subtle Art Deco design overlay in the furniture detailing, the palette of the Langdon Building is cream with teal accents. The bathrooms feature cream and black checkerboard polished stone floors, stone showers, and custom Art Deco vanities. The Art Deco circular windows from the building’s original design also have been preserved. In addition, the Langdon Building consists of extended-stay suites that resemble studio-style living and features claw-foot bathtubs.

Located on the 12th floor of the Wisconsin Building, the two premium suites have radial glass walls overlooking Lake Mendota. Each suite offers a dining room, living room, bedroom and additional guest bathroom and the main bathroom features travertine tile and marble finishes for a walk-in shower and soaking tub. For guests looking for some extra pampering, the two convertible spa rooms in the Langdon Building allow guests to enjoy on-site luxury appointments from The Edgewater Spa.

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