W Hotel Soft Opening in Hollywood

Behold the calm before the storm. Tomorrow may mark the official opening of the new W Hotel and Residences in Hollywood, but the hotel quietly started taking guests today, while the restaurants are open for business. So how does it look? The lobby's grand staircase is slightly reminiscent of Miami's Fountainebleau, and the interiors seem to be moving away from the minimalism of late 1990s/early 2000s W Hotels, with more texture, color and pattern. The valet is located inside the courtyard between the residences and hotel, so the non-pedestrian entrance is next to the registration desk. The hotel interiors were done by Portland-based designstudio ltd, while LA-based Daly Genik designed the residential interiors (not pictured). HKS was the architecture firm for the project, with Rios Clementi Hale providing the (relatively minimal) landscaping, and rounding out the team, Culver City-based Sussman-Prezja designed the signage. Expect more coverage on Curbed tomorrow....the W is throwing a big party in the morning with a "surprise music guest."
· Look At W Hollywood Residences: Point/Counterpoint [Curbed LA]
· Team Hollywood [Architect's Newspaper]