Apr 9 2013
Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world's largest hotel companies, has completed its move and officially checked into its new state of the art global headquarters at 1 Choice Hotels Circle in Rockville, Maryland in the heart of Rockville Town Square.
Choice Hotels International New Global Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. (PRNewsFoto/Choice Hotels International, Inc.)
After more than 40 years based in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, the move reflects the company's continued growth, the strong appeal of its hotel brands -- which include industry icons Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, and Econo Lodge and the newer upscale brand Cambria Suites, and the unique and upscale Ascend Hotel Collection membership program -- as well as Choice Hotels' desire to remain rooted in the Montgomery County community.
Choice Hotels worked with top level developers, architects, designers, project managers and sustainability consultants Foulger-Pratt Companies, WDG Architecture, VOA Associates, rand* construction corporation, AtSite, Inc. and Clear Real Estate Services to develop and manage the sleek new facility. The 135,000 square foot global headquarters maintains the feel of a hospitality company incorporating hotel elements such as check-in desks at reception, a stylish great room lounge, and a business center for visitors that helps to support tasks such as checking email or printing boarding passes. Featuring a wide open, contemporary design, the concept helps to encourage innovation, efficiency and collaboration.
Today more than 400 headquarter employees moved in to their new offices at 1 Choice Hotels Circle. Cutting edge technology and connectivity ensure associates and guests can work and relax throughout the building and outside on more than 3,500 square feet of patio space which offers an inviting open fire pit and outdoor living furniture as well as cafe tables. Non-conference room meeting and gathering spaces on every floor were created knowing great ideas come from everywhere.
Choice Hotels International selected Rockville, Maryland-based Foulger-Pratt Companies from a prestigious group of prominent owners and developers in the Washington Metropolitan Area to be the owner, developer, and general contractor of its new global headquarters. Now celebrating its 50th year of operations, Foulger-Pratt is behind other notable real estate projects such as the Park Potomac luxury residential and retail development and the Washington, D.C. Mormon Temple located in Kensington, Maryland for which it served as design consultant and general contractor.
"We chose Foulger-Pratt to develop, own and be the general contractor for Choice's new world headquarters because of their excellent history of developing and constructing successful and prestigious commercial office and mixed-use real estate projects in the Washington, DC area," said Stephen P. Joyce , president and CEO of Choice Hotels International. "Foulger-Pratt was exceptional to work with throughout this process. From the onset, they assured us they would develop and construct Class A commercial offices that would meet all of Choice Hotels' requirements, on time and within budget. And they did. They were even ahead of schedule."
Designed to meet the guidelines for certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the facility's sustainability features include water consumption that has been reduced by 40%, locally sourced building materials and controllable lighting and thermostats. Energy consumption will be further offset through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) sourced from wind power. Foulger-Pratt and building designers WDG Architecture are pursuing a LEED Platinum certification for the overall facility.
The Choice Hotels workspace on floors four through nine was designed by VOA Associates, the architecture firm behind Choice Hotels' offices in Phoenix, Arizona which serve as the company's global technology hub. Like the Rockville headquarters, the Phoenix facility was based on an open design to help foster innovative ideas and teamwork. Other parties involved with this project include: rand* construction corporation, as the general contractor for the Choice Hotels workplace; AtSite, Inc. as project manager and LEED consultants; and Clear Real Estate Services as project manager.