Architectural Design Mesh Helps Illuminate New Westin Cleveland Downtown.

As part of an effort to provide the city with a premier lodging destination, Westin
Cleveland Downtown went to great lengths to achieve its high levels of sophistication.
The illuminated, eye-catching façade adorning Cleveland’s newest four-star
accommodations is the result of a fusion of multicolored lights and architectural wire
mesh from HAVER & BOECKER.

Driven by dynamic population growth, the Cleveland downtown area has realized
extensive revitalization efforts over the past 20 years. According to Forbes, there is
more than $350 million currently invested in the area’s redevelopment. Among the
completed projects are a new aquarium, a 750,000 square foot convention center and
the Global Center for Health Innovation. A number of other ventures are in the works,
including a recreation center and skate park.

The flurry of activity and promise of things to come enticed SAGE Hospitality to the
area. A hotel with a rich history and the city’s second largest with nearly 500 rooms,
Westin Cleveland Downtown (formerly the Crowne Plaza Hotel) was the perfect target
for SAGE’s efforts in the region. Once host to movie stars, politicians and Presidents,
the hotel would once again realize its place as four-star accommodations.

As part of their directive to return the Westin to an elite property, SAGE identified
critical infrastructure issues, established a design approach and allocated budget for
the proposed improvements. Marous Brothers Construction, a full-service firm based
in nearby Willoughby, was procured to handle design/build aspects of the facility.

“By utilizing local builders and suppliers, SAGE was able to cut both the costs
associated with transportation and the lead times associated with product delivery,”
said Christopher Auvil, AIA, LEED AP, director of design services for Marous Brothers
Construction. “The local contributions also offered knowledge and insight particular to
the area.”

The Marous team integrated a number of fresh aspects into the 14-month, $74 million
and 500,000-square foot renovation project. The major transformation included new
mechanical and safety systems, lighting, guest rooms, and restaurant and fitness
center. “The exciting part of the project was watching the transformation from what it
was to what it became,” Auvil said.

Many existing features, such as the elevator controls, guest room interiors and
common areas, experienced major aesthetic and system overhauls. The exterior
facelift is highlighted by an attention-grabbing façade featuring architectural wire
mesh from HAVER & BOECKER.

In keeping with the theme of using local companies for the renovation, Marous
Brothers Construction specified DOGLA-TRIO architectural mesh for the façade. The
architectural mesh allowed the designers to mask the parking facilities that span the
second through fifth floors. Replacing the previous brick and metal cladding with an
architectural wire mesh provided a textured and unique look. “The architectural mesh
afforded ventilation, fall protection and decorative value,” Auvil said. Spectrums of
rainbow-colored lights embellish the metal mesh at twilight and in the evening hours
to provide a bold, beautiful statement. “There are 52 panels that stretch about 300
feet and are about 60-70 feet high,” Auvil added. “Each panel has its own LED light,
which is lit with an infinite number of colors.”

HAVER & BOECKER customized the DOGLA-TRIO offering for the Westin
application. “While the designers liked the characteristics of the DOGLA-TRIO, they
requested a modified version to create different openings in one continuous panel,”
Wendy DeCapite, Architectural Sales Manager for HAVER & BOECKER said. “The
design team wanted a more dense version to cover the openings in the garage area
and a more open version for the area in front of the sixth floor ballroom. Areas of the
façade were also customized to incorporate signage attachments.”

A robust and flexible weave which gets its structure from clusters of vertical wires,
DOGLA-TRIO architectural wire mesh was also showcased during installation. After
connecting the mesh at the top of the area, installers simply rolled the product down
to its final position. The lightweight mesh was then fastened at the bottom of the
installation using HAVER & BOECKER’s fully engineered flat tension profile and
clevis assembly system. “The architectural mesh offered us a product that was much
lighter and easier to install than the former masonry panels,” said Auvil.

By incorporating architectural wire mesh into the façade renovation, designers of the
Westin Cleveland Downtown were able to turn the “necessary evil” of a parking facility
into an integral segment of the building design. The addition of multicolored LED
lighting helped transform the garage into part of the building’s stunning décor.
Westin Cleveland Downtown, an old building with a new lease on life, opened its
doors for business in May. The building’s eye-catching mesh façade, an eclectic
décor palette and full amenities allow the hotel to make its own contribution to
Cleveland’s urban renewal. It is time for the hotel to write yet another chapter of its
long, colorful history.
www.weavingarchitecture.com