Choice Hotels International, Inc., among the many 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 within the heart of Rockville Town Square.
After greater 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 original and upscale Ascend Hotel Collection membership program—as well as Choice Hotels’ want to remain rooted within 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 graceful new facility. The 135,000 square foot global headquarters maintains the texture of a hospitality company incorporating hotel elements resembling check-in desks at reception, a trendy great room lounge, and a business center for visitors that helps to support tasks inclusive of checking email or printing boarding passes. Featuring a large open, contemporary design, the postulate helps to encourage innovation, efficiency and collaboration.
Today greater than 400 headquarter employees moved in to their new offices at 1 Choice Hotels Circle. Innovative technology and connectivity ensure associates and guests can work and relax within the building and out of doors on greater than 3,500 square feet of patio space which offers an inviting open fire pit and outdoor living furniture in addition to 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 within the Washington Metropolitan Area to be the landlord, 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 consisting of 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 final contractor for Choice’s new world headquarters as a consequence of their excellent history of developing and constructing successful and prestigious commercial office and mixed-use real estate projects within 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 might develop and construct Class A commercial offices that might meet all of Choice Hotels’ requirements, on time and within budget. They usually did. They were even prior to schedule.”
Designed to satisfy the ideas 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 was reduced by 40%, locally sourced building materials and controllable lighting and thermostats. Energy consumption would 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 entire 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 function the company’s global technology hub. Just like the Rockville headquarters, the Phoenix facility was in accordance with an open design to aid foster innovative ideas and teamwork. Other parties involved with this project include: rand* construction corporation, because the general contractor for the decision Hotels workplace; AtSite, Inc. as project manager and LEED consultants; and Clear Real Estate Services as project manager.