By Courtney Dabney
The Sinclair
Built in 1929, the Sinclair Building started life as a bank, and later served for decades as an office building.
Built in 1929, the Sinclair Building − one of Fort Worth's art deco gems − started life as a bank, and later served for decades as an office building. Now, the building's owner, Farukh Aslam and Marriot Hotels, have simultaneously kept the character of The Sinclair building and added modern amenities to stunning effect in the new Marriott Autograph Collection hotel.
They hope to open the 164-room hotel by mid to late September. Reservations will begin after October.
It is considered one of Marriot's "hotels of the future," one of the first from Marriot's thinktank to be brought to life. Aslam played a big role in all the cutting-edge technology installed. "Fort Worth is home to the world's first truly connected building," he says. The Department of Energy is actually going to be studying the efficiency of the new design.
By Courtney Dabney
From lighting powered by the internet throughout the entire building to voice-activated features, it's pretty impressive. There’s even crazy stuff like stationary bikes hooked up to the grid, so your 20-minute workout actually helps power the building. Rather than bore you will all the minutia, suffice it to say that sustainable design devotees and technology junkies are going to really geek-out over it.
When you walk in to the lobby, you'll notice a glitzy new oyster bar to your left, and a cozy lobby lounge to your right. The bank of three elevators in the distance retain their original art deco facades, and many of the preserved details − from elaborate crown moldings to the original numbered, marble elevator landings − are heart-warming.
By Courtney Dabney
The basement level will be home to the new Wicked Butcher restaurant, with its own bar and sushi bar, operated by Dallas' DRG Concepts. The space is luxe with a huge, wrap-around, glass-enclosed wine cellar, and even has a large private dining room flooded with natural light from the ground level. More on that here
The media tour included a peek inside the sleek hotel rooms on the thirteenth floor. Yes, while a lot of hotels have skipped the thirteenth floor altogether, Marriott retained it, because The Sinclair originally had one. Now they call it the "lucky" floor.
Everything in the rooms and suites are wired, from the lighting and draperies to the mini-bar. Rooms have a modern European feel with imported Spanish tiles, plush bedding, and Nespresso coffee machines. Bose speakers are installed in every room, and the showers are equipped with digital/voice-activated Kholer faucets, complete with light therapy options.
The hotel suites, like the bi-level Penthouse Suite, even add Kholer steam showers to the mix and "wallpaper televisions" that look like artwork. The Penthouse has its own full kitchen too. The modern interior design throughout the property marries well with The Sinclair's art deco flourishes.
By Courtney Dabney
The most over-the-top part about the Marriott Sinclair is actually located at the top. The addition of two added floors. The original Sinclair building stopped at 15, but now, there is a floor 16 and 17 as well. It makes way for a stunning rooftop bar and lounge area.
The central bar can be fully enclosed by walls of glass or opened to soak up pristine weather. Multiple lounge-scapes and seating options surround the rooftop. The views of downtown are impressive in all directions, and with all The Sinclair has to offer, the rooftop is really its crowning jewel.
