OMAHA, Neb.
A new district is emerging in downtown Omaha. The Capitol District, a mixed-use development combining hotel, apartments, retail, office and outdoor entertainment, will open in phases starting this month with the opening of the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. The new-build hotel has an August 8 launch date.
The 333-room Omaha Marriott Downtown, managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, was designed by the LEO A DALY architecture firm and is being built by JE Dunn. The 12-story glass building was designed to stand out in the downtown skyline and it complements the distinctive roofline of the Omaha Convention Center.
The transparent building envelope is said to create “a sophisticated presence along 10th street.”
“At night, the building takes on an elegant glow,” said David Hawes, architect with LEO A DALY.
The full-service hotel features over 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, hospitality suites, a rooftop swimming pool with a bar area, a full-service restaurant and an extra-large fitness center.
On the pedestrian level, the Omaha Marriott Downtown aims to create a sense of transparency.
“We were careful to create as much visual frontage as possible on the street level to allow people to see and be seen,” Hawes said while referencing the design of the hotel. “The high ceilings make the lobby a ‘celebratory space’ with views to the convention center to the east, and the city skyline to the west.”
Comprising three main uses—lounge, dining room, and bar—the different portions of the grand lobby spill over into each other to create a cohesive but intimate gathering space. Local materials such as brick and iron bring the warehouse style of the Old Market into a sophisticated space, according to Holmes.
According to a Marriott press release, The Capitol District forms a link between the events district, Riverfront, Old Market and the downtown core, adding a density to the two blocks between 10th and 12th Street.
“We wanted to create a vibrant, walkable enclave that is unlike anything else in downtown,” said Hawes. “The design invites visitors who may feel isolated in the events district to experience the real Omaha, while also creating a comfortable, active place for residents to live, work and play.”
Capitol District is described as “the first entertainment district in Omaha,” taking advantage of a new city ordinance that allows alcoholic beverages to be consumed outdoors. To complement the wide-open concept, the mixed-use design provides portals to entertainment that celebrates community use.
