Converted from an 80 year-old office building, Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is Kimpton’s first LEED certified hotel.

More evidence to the adage that the greenest buildings are the ones that are already standing, the recently opened Kimpton Palomar in Philadelphia is a LEED-certified adaptive re-use of The Architects Building, originally designed by a consortium of prominent Philadelphia architects in the late 1920’s.

The Hotel Palomar Philadelphia will be Kimpton’s 11th adaptive reuse development but its fist that is LEED-certified. LEED features will include daylight in 90 percent of all hotel spaces, a water reduction of 20 percent, an energy efficient HVAC system, and has at least 10 percent recycled content in the materials and resources used in the design. Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is also working to support green power, by purchasing enough renewable energy credits equivalent to two years’ power demand.

“We are also working on the concept of an educational display and tour, which would highlight a number of the sustainable elements in the hotel,” said Matt Wolfe, LEED Coordinator of Gensler. “The tour will take you through the building’s public spaces, showing guests the materials with recycled content, reclaimed floor finishes, FSC certified wood products, and other green elements.”

One of the leaders in the hotel industry for adaptive reuse of historic buildings, Kimpton called on Gensler to help with the renovation and refurbishment of the distinctive 26-story Art Deco structure.

Located near Rittenhouse Square, the Palomar is Kimpton's first hotel in the city. The building has functioned as an office building with ground floor retail and as home to the local chapter of the AIA since opening in 1930.