The authentic Chesapeake Bay experience on Maryland's Eastern Shore now includes the new Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina. The four-star, year round resort, built on over 340 acres, is compromised of 400 luxury rooms (including 16 suites), with 35,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, six food and beverage outlets, an 18-hole championship golf course, 150 slip marina, 18,000 square foot European health spa, extensive multi-level indoor and outdoor swimming pool and children's recreation center, and 18-acre Nature Preserve.

Resort amenities include a 42,000 square foot conference center with two ballrooms, boardroom, 24 meeting rooms and theme party pavilion, tennis courts, private beach, six restaurants and lounges, and golf club. Design concepts for the $115 building project began in 1996 and ended with the opening of the resort in August 2002.

From the first moment you walk into the Hyatt Chesapeake Bay Resort lobby, the light, airy, open décor and luxurious woodwork makes a statement of comfort and elegance. The high-end appearance and atmosphere is due in part to the project team: ILEX Woodworking, Inc., an AWI member firm located in Baltimore, Maryland; DRDC Euro Asian Design, Ltd. of Marina Del Ray, California; and Clark Construction Group, Bethesda, Maryland.

Design Considerations
Serious design consideration was given to how to fit the scale of such a large project into the low scale environment of the Chesapeake Bay and Choptank River locations, reports Dennis Reedy, design director and principal at DRDC. The design team arrived at the concept for the exterior of the Grand Manor House with the Grand Lawn between the Manor House and the water's edge citing precedents such as Mount Vernon and the many private mansions lining the shores of Chesapeake Bay, he explains.

The design team conducted a great deal of research before selecting indigenous materials, colors and styles for the award-winning Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort.

“We chose a campus style plan to break up the project into a series of related but physically disconnected buildings,” Reedy says. “We arrived at a dual concept for the interior: for the public areas we chose a concept of yacht club interiors, with natural themes, and for the guest areas we chose a Bay Country design.” Nautical themes are continued in the corridors as extensions of the public area.

“We arrived at these themes from our research and appreciation of the fact that the Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Shore location consists of dual lifestyles. The working watermen of the bay who make their living in the fishing, crabbing and oyster industry influenced the nautical theme, while the agriculture industry of the region directed the country theme. The strong presence and dominating visuals of two related but divergent aspects of water and land gave us the inspiration for our interiors,” continues Reedy.

Enchanting Lobby
The refreshingly comforting main lobby of the hotel is the showcase of the project. Rich in Maple and Mahogany woodwork, selected for the light color and durability, is worthy of a grand yacht.

ILEX Woodworking custom fabricated the wall paneling, grand staircase, registration desk, concierge desk and coffered ceiling in the lobby. Columns were designed round and smooth to resemble the masts of ships. Walls were styled as yacht interiors, and the flooring, with alternating bands of dark and light solid Maple, give the appearance of the deck of a ship.

The ceiling was designed with a slight curvature consistent with ship design, with Anigre and Maple used to reinforce the nautical theme while maintaining an upscale light color tone.

The main lobby was designed to evoke the “Wow factor,” adds Reedy. This is the most often heard expression made by guests entering the lobby for the first time and experiencing the spectacular interior and water view of the Choptank and Chesapeake, note the hotel owners.

Columns soar two stories high, over 30 feet, while six fireplaces and an elegant concierge desk and registration desk greet guests. The lobby is the most intricate and noteworthy area, says Michael Alt, Jr., president if ILEX Woodworking.

Additional Assistance
In addition to the lobby area, staircase and desks, the AWI member firm fabricated buffets and banquette seating for the main dining room, door casings, running trim, wood and glass partitions for the personal training room, doors, ceiling panels, handrails, food service counters and bases for room vanities. Woodwork was installed by TPM Installation, an AWI supplier member firm.

ILEX Woodworking also assisted with designing ceiling installation methods, provided early schedules and constantly monitored the work schedule. “Throughout concept to completion, the entire team at ILEX was very professional, efficient, within budget and on time with their work,” points out Reedy. “The production of detailed shop drawings insured smooth production and installation.”

Location, design, a breathtaking interior and the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the bay makes the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort the perfect backdrop for an incredible adventure.

© Fall 2003 DesignSolutions