citizenM

Located in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, citizenM is the city’s first modular hotel and a model for sustainable hotel design. The 264-guestroom building is comprised of 228 modules that were fully finished in the factory to significantly reduce the environmental impacts of traditional construction due to traffic, air quality, and emissions. Rooftop solar panels and sustainable design solutions, such as efficient mechanical and electrical systems, also helped achieve a 24% energy reduction. Through such climate action strategies, Gensler’s hospitality and sustainable design team helped the client achieve a LEED Gold-Certified for New Construction for citizenM’s South Lake Union location.

The Seattle team stacked seven to eight modules per day on average, and the rooms were set in just 89 days, allowing for a schedule reduction of four months. In addition to shortening the construction timeline, the factory-assembled modules reduce construction costs and waste and are a higher quality product that is not subject to risk factors like weather-related delays and labor and material shortages. In fact, 85% of construction debris was recovered, reused, or recycled.

The hotel’s facade is adorned with large-scale artwork, punctuating the Seattle skyline with vibrant color, while its ground floor welcomes visitors with a comic book-inspired mural. The hotel lobby leads into an eclectic living room space featuring modern furniture, neon signage, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The overall aesthetic of citizenM’s South Lake Union hotel is one of programmatic and structural expression, with the function of each guestroom registered on the facade as part of the design expression.