Architectural icon repurposed by Marcel Breuer
Hotel Marcel in New Haven by Becker + Becker
© Seamus Payne
In New Haven, Connecticut, the architects from Becker + Becker have transformed the former administrative headquarters of Armstrong Rubber into the USA’s first passive-energy hotel. The building was originally designed by Marcel Breuer and Robert Gatje and completed in 1969; it was erected beside Interstate 95, which represented another new feature on the city’s waterfront.
© Seamus Payne
The steel-framed building covered with sculptural, prefabricated concrete elements was evidently designed to make an impression from afar. A five-storey office block floats above a two-storey base that once housed the rubber company’s research labs. This block is borne by three access cores and eight individual supports. The building’s levels do not protrude directly from these supports, but hang from steel framework beams nearly 5 m tall that have been set into the windowless attic.
The architects, who developed this project independently, have now made this level accessible. Two new interior atria illuminate the conference rooms that have been created among the steel beams here. Farther down, the atria continue as smaller light shafts that allow daylight into the inward-facing guest rooms as well. There are 165 rooms in the hotel, which has belonged to the Tapestry Collection by Hilton since its opening.
© Seamus Payne
The Brutalist concrete building looks a bit lost where it stands in the parking lot of an IKEA furniture store. In order to build the IKEA structure, part of the base was demolished in 2003 despite protests from residents and the fact that Breuer’s masterpiece has been historically protected since 1997. The architects have accommodated the hotel reception, restaurant, bar, fitness room and more conference rooms in the remaining part.
© Seamus Payne
© Seamus Payne
What makes the architects’ achievement even more astounding is that they have succeeded at refurbishing the existing building to meet passive-energy standards. The façades have been insulated with facing formwork of gypsum plasterboard similar to that which was installed when the building was first erected. The wood-framed windows are triple-glazed copies of the originals. As they are set deeply into their soffits, the three-dimensional façade acts as a sunshade as well. New roller blinds inside provide additional protection from the sun.
© Seamus Payne
To save electricity, the blinds and lighting are connected to an internal power-over-ethernet low-voltage system. The renovated Breuer building is conceived as an all-electric structure. It is heated via a heat pump that draws its power from the photovoltaic system on the roof and the many parking canopies. Surplus electricity will be stored in a 1-MW battery that can be used as an emergency power supply when needed, feed the electricity into the public network or even allow the temporary, self-sufficient operation of the building.
Read more in Detail 1/2.2023 and in our databank Detail Inspiration.
Architecture (existing building): Marcel Breuer, Robert Gatje
Architecture, project development (refurbishment): Becker + Becker Associates
Client: 500, LLC
Location: 500 Sargent Dr, New Haven, CT 06511 (US)
Structural engineering: GNCB Consulting Engineers
Building services engineering: LN Consulting
Interior design: Dutch East Design
Contractors: Babbildge Construction, Consigli Construction
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