Landing in Luxury
Revived Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel incorporates flight-themed designs

By Diane DiPiero

Traveling by commercial airplane in the 1950s was akin to attending a swanky cocktail party in the sky. Rich wood paneling sheaved the aircraft’s gently curved walls. Leather club chairs and fabric-covered love seats cradled passengers in comfort. Service with a smile seemed to come naturally to airline attendants wearing sharp single-breasted suits and pillbox hats.

That feeling of comfort and sophistication served as the impetus for the renovation of the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel. With the expertise of Chicago-based Area 39 Architects and MDS Builders, Inc., of Medina, the hotel’s public areas expertly meld classic architecture with timeless details and modern-day conveniences.

Sheraton is part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which is also the parent company of hotel chains Meridien, W and Westin, among others. Each chain’s goal is to set itself apart from the others, creating a distinctive destination. “Sheraton’s goal is to have a homey atmosphere,” says Joe Pinto, VP of Hotel Operations at Oakbrook Hotels, Inc., manager of the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel.

Starwood recently energized the Sheraton brand through a multi-billion-dollar building and renovation project. Features that can be found in all of Sheraton’s 150-plus hotels include Sweet Sleeper 300-count bedding and Core Performance fitness centers.

Area 39 Architects needed to keep the key brand features of Sheraton in mind while giving this airport location a more unique look. The firm believes in infusing its hotel and restaurant projects with local influences; in other words, it takes cues from the cultural, historical and geographical characteristics that distinguish one city from another. This helps give travelers a sense of place. “So when you wake up in the morning, you know what city you’re in,” says Jay Keller, a principal with Area 39 Architects.

Fortunately, Hopkins Partners, owners of the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel, agreed that this Sheraton demanded a distinctive presence. “The owners are very in tune with the architectural world and have a very good eye,” says Keller. “They were very much on board with our ideas.”

To read the rest of this article, download the August 2010 issue of Properties Magazine now. [August 2010; download PDF; 11.7 mb]