Hunt Construction Group: Hyatt Place Hotel

Hunt Construction Group (Hunt), a general contractor based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is currently constructing the new Hyatt Place Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas. The 18-story hotel, designed to cater to business travelers, is being developed and managed by White Lodging. Such specialty hotels have been popping up around the world, offering in-house amenities that save time for guests and ease the business portion of the business trip.

Hunt is a leader in the hospitality building industry, with a history of completing complex hotel projects on time that exceed the expectations of clients. The Hunt team was ranked second in Engineering News-Record’s list of top contractors by industry. The construction management specialists work with a network of reliable subcontractors with a similar background and high level of expertise in custom construction. The company has been involved in several Hyatt Place projects around the country, as well as projects for other leading hotel chains like Marriott. Hunt offers a wide range of capabilities to clients, including the creation of events centers, athletic complexes and healthcare facilities from coast to coast.

The Place to Be

When Hyatt Place Hotel opens in 2013, guests will be able to enjoy 12 floors of guest rooms, on-site laundry, a gym, an indoor pool and in-house dining. The building was designed with a focus on comfort and amenities that serve people working on the go. Hyatt Place Hotel will offer 296 suites with king-size beds, work spaces, entertainment and media centers with a seating area fashionably separated from the sleeping area with a decorative partition. A full bath and mini fridge top off the package with all of the comforts of home, with all of the preparation space and high-tech capabilities of an office.

For guests’ convenience, the hotel is connected to a parking garage with 136 spaces and plenty of useful common spaces. In addition, visitors can access 3,600 square feet of meeting space for collaborative efforts. The hotel’s lobby offers several dining options, including The Gallery, a full-service bar open 24 hours providing patrons with wine, beer, spirits and coffee, as well as a gourmet breakfast operation, A.M. Kitchen Skillet. Guests can access free Wi-Fi from anywhere on the premises, allowing for last-minute presentation edits over a bagel, or late-night brainstorming over a martini.

A Streamlined Building Process

Tim Wuestefeld, project manager for Hunt, has been running the operation since breaking ground on the Hyatt Place Hotel in November 2011. “We really haven’t run into any major challenges,” explains Wuestefeld. “The project is close to pedestrian pathways, so we have had to focus on working with the city to meet those needs to ensure the public’s safety.”

Hunt has worked on several projects with White Lodging, and this is not the team’s first Hyatt Place Hotel project. The company is also currently working on a Hyatt Place Hotel in downtown Nashville with a similar scope of work and specifications.

As with every project, Hunt is working with a team of skilled local contractors. “All of the work is subcontracted out,” reports Wuestefeld. “We seek out low price, but also high qualifications. All of our subcontractors go through an interview process and we research the financials of the company. We bond 100 percent of our subcontractors.” Hunt has worked with several contractors prior, and the partners have established relationships of trust and reliability.

Hunt’s dependable subcontractors also have proven their capabilities in safe, high-quality and eco-friendly building. The Hyatt Place Hotel is designed to meet Austin’s green building standards, as all new projects in Austin valued at over $2 million are required to meet the minimal one-star rating. Such projects are evaluated for LEED qualities, such as sustainable site conditions, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere requirements, materials and resources impacts and indoor environmental quality.

Hunt has built a reputation for complex projects like the Hyatt Place Hotel chain, among others like athletic complexes and large commercial and institutional structures. The company has been ranked No. 27 in Engineering News-Record’s list of the top 400 contractors in the country, and continues to grow as a leader in the industry. The team maintains a contract volume of $6 billion to $8 billion per year, offering a wide range of management and design-build services.

Like its many other hotel projects, Hunt maintains a focus on quality work and end functionality of each. With the opening in early 2013, Hunt Construction Group will have completed a lasting structure with an impressive atmosphere. The Hyatt Place Hotel in downtown Austin will offer high-tech amenities and a home base for business travelers in the city.