Editorial Board   Guest Author

Mr. Uhrin

Rob Uhrin

Principal, Cooper Carry

Rob Uhrin is a leader in the thriving Hospitality Studio in Cooper Carry's Washington, DC office, where he combines resources from the firm's national practice to complete projects nationwide. During a decade in Atlanta working on multiple building types, Mr. Uhrin settled on hospitality. This varied architectural experience gives him the particular ability to integrate hospitality projects into the mixed-use environments that are fundamental to Cooper Carry's design philosophy. Mr. Uhrin's favorite projects include urban infill that revitalize an existing urban area and represent investment in the surrounding neighborhoods. He leads the design of projects ranging from massive urban scale developments to small boutique hotels, while also acting as a thought leader as the hospitality industry continually redefines itself. He is currently leading the design of diverse hospitality projects including the Notre Dame Embassy Suites hotel in South Bend, IN, the NC State Centennial Campus Conference Center & Hotel, in Raleigh, NC and a Hyatt Centric hotel located in the shopping district of historic Alexandria, Virginia. Beyond his hospitality and conference center expertise, Uhrin leverages Cooper Carry's emphasis on mixed-use design to create truly livable, authentic places. He is regularly on the road, pitching a greater vision of the 21st-century hotel as a gathering place surrounded by restaurants, shops, offices and townhouses, wrapped into a truly spectacular place. Mr. Uhrin has held a leadership design position on nearly 30 hotels and 6,000 keys, more than half of which have been in an urban setting, where the building is expected to catalyze its urban environment.

Please visit http://www.coopercarry.com for more information.

Mr. Uhrin can be contacted at 703-519-6152 or robuhrin@coopercarry.com

Coming up in November 2019...

Architecture & Design: Biophilic Design

The hospitality industry is constantly evolving to meet and exceed guest expectations. As a result, hotels are always on the lookout for new ways to improve the guest experience, and architecture and design is an essential part of this equation. Bold design is often the most effective way to make an exceptional first impression - an impression guests use to distinguish between brands. One design trend that is being embraced worldwide has become known as “Biophilic Design.” Biophilic design is based on the concept of biophilia, which is the theory that human beings have an innate tendency to seek out nature, natural elements, and natural forms. Biophilic design is more than hotels simply adding a surplus of plants; it involves incorporating specific design elements into a hotel in order to imbue it with a sense of wellness and well-being. Some of those elements include exposure to natural lighting; views of nature and rooms with a view; natural architectural patterns; salvaged or reclaimed woods of all types; reclaimed metals; sustainably sourced stone; living green walls and vertical gardens; and direct and indirect exposure to nature. Hotels that have incorporated biophilic design into their properties are reaping the benefits associated with this trend including reduced stress responses, better air quality, lower energy costs, and more positive guest reviews. Biophilic design has also been shown to improve guest moods and to satisfy consumer demand for environmental responsibility. Savvy hotel owners and managers are aware that nature-inspired elements enhance their guests' comfort and well-being, which is why this trend is becoming so prevalent. Biophilic design is just one topic in the fields of hotel architecture and design that will be examined in the November issue of the Hotel Business Review.
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