Woodbine Legacy Investments Begins Renovation of W Atlanta-Buckhead

Rendering of Whiskey Blue rooftop bar, W Hotel Buckhead, Atlanta, GA

ATLANTA, GA—Woodbine Legacy Investments has launched a $20 million renovation of the W Atlanta-Buckhead, a 12-story, 291-room full-service luxury hotel in Atlanta's affluent Buckhead neighborhood. The renovation began in May 2018 and will be complete in late December 2018, just weeks before the city hosts Super Bowl LIII. Woodbine hired C+TC Studio of Atlanta as the architect and interior designer for guest rooms and the hotel's rooftop bar, Whiskey Blue; STUDIO 11 of Dallas as the interior designer for the lobby, public areas and meeting space; and Genoa Construction as the general contractor for the project.

“When this hotel debuted as part of the W Hotels portfolio in 2008, it quickly became a hotspot for locals and visitors alike and has remained that way for the past decade. That said, when Woodbine purchased the property in 2017, we knew it needed a reboot to restore its shine,” says Dupree Scovell, managing partner and chief investment officer for Woodbine. “This renovation is definitely more than a makeover—it will reinstate the edgy and artful experience guests expect from the W brand, especially with Buckhead as the backdrop.”

“Our renovated hotel will feature a bold new design that will appeal to our guests, all of whom are drawn to the chic-meets-rebel style of our luxury destination,” says W Atlanta-Buckhead general manager Robert Woolridge. “This overhaul will ultimately make our address—the hottest address in Buckhead—even hotter.”

The top-to-bottom revamp includes a lobby redesign, with the addition of a dedicated welcome area for the Whatever/Whenever concierge team; new furnishings; and a café-style seating arrangement that will include a DJ booth for night events. Also, in the lobby, there will be a new custom mural by the W photo booth, allowing guests to take photos that will then be displayed on a loop with a Polaroid-style treatment on a nearby screen.

The hotel's 11,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting and event space will receive new furnishings, paint, carpeting, lighting and artwork, along with enhanced spaces for breakout sessions and pre- and post-function events and activities. The fitness center, where guests can enjoy views of the city, will also get a new artful look. Additionally, Woodbine is upgrading all internet cables for faster connectivity throughout the hotel.

Guest accommodations—which include 286 guest rooms plus 4 WOW Suites and one EWOW Suite—will get new headboards, armoires, damask wallcoverings and carpeting, 55-inch televisions, in-room Nespresso machines and beverage bar, and artwork throughout.

Air-conditioning window units will also be removed from all guest rooms, decreasing system-related sounds—and more importantly, making room for a window portal to frame up a new work/lounge area featuring chaise, a table and cocktail cubby.

Guest bath updates include wallcoverings and sliding glass doors for augmented privacy. Guestroom corridors also have new wallcoverings, carpeting and lighting throughout.

W Atlanta-Buckhead's award-winning rooftop bar, Whiskey Blue, operated by Gerber Group, is also being transformed. The update is evolving and upgrading this longtime hotspot, which opened to much fanfare 10 years ago and quickly became one of city's most popular places to see and be seen.

“We're extremely excited to reintroduce the renovated Whiskey Blue to the city of Atlanta,” says Scott Gerber, principal and CEO of Gerber Group. “We've aspired to create an exceptional experience for our guests through every detail, from our design to our renowned beverage program.”

Updates to Whiskey Blue will include new furnishings, flooring, wallcoverings, lighting, artwork, terrace furnishings and landscaping, as well as changes to the entrance elevator and surrounding rooftop. These updates are anticipated to be finished in late October.

A second phase of renovation in 2019 will focus on the hotel's restaurant, Cook Hall.

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Steve Lubetkin is the New Jersey and Philadelphia editor for GlobeSt.com. He is currently filling in covering Chicago and Midwest markets until a new permanent editor is named. He previously filled in covering Atlanta. Steve’s journalism background includes print and broadcast reporting for NJ news organizations. His audio and video work for GlobeSt.com has been honored by the Garden State Journalists Association, and he has also been recognized for video by the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He has produced audio podcasts on CRE topics for the NAR Commercial Division and the CCIM Institute. Steve has also served (from August 2017 to March 2018) as national broadcast news correspondent for CEOReport.com, a news website focused on practical advice for senior executives in small- and medium-sized companies. Steve also reports on-camera and covers conferences for NJSpotlight.com, a public policy news coverage website focused on New Jersey government and industry; and for clients of StateBroadcastNews.com, a division of The Lubetkin Media Companies LLC. Steve has been the computer columnist for the Jewish Community Voice of Southern New Jersey, since 1996. Steve is co-author, with Toronto-based podcasting pioneer Donna Papacosta, of the book, The Business of Podcasting: How to Take Your Podcasting Passion from the Personal to the Professional. You can email Steve at [email protected].