PROVIDENCE, RI– Shawmut Design and Construction announced that it has completed the construction of the $55 million Aloft Providence Downtown hotel in the Rhode Island capital city’s Innovation & Design District.
The now completed Aloft Providence Downtown, which broke ground in January 2020 and was designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, is situated on land acquired from the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission.
“This announcement adds to a growing list of developments happening in Providence’s Innovation & Design District,” said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. “This project will add jobs and infuse energy and entertainment into the neighborhood, and further Rhode Island’s reputation as an ideal place to live and work.”
The hotel features 175 rooms whose design reflects the energy and spirit of new technological developments. The ground floor features open and vibrant spaces, meant to bring people together — including meeting rooms, gathering spaces, a fitness center, a grab-and-go food alternative, a lobby bar with outdoor patio, and a rooftop bar overlooking the Providence skyline.
The exterior façade of the roughly 101,000 square-foot hotel, managed by Marriott International, is comprised of a unique mixture of materials — including a combination of brick façade on the north wing and corrugated metal paneling on the south wing. These façade materials are accented with punched curtain wall windows and vertical accents.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of this dynamic property,” said Ron Simoneau, Executive Vice President at Shawmut Design and Construction. “Breaking ground just before the start of the pandemic certainly presented its challenges, but thanks to the ingenuity of our team, which developed the Shawmut Vitals technology to screen every worker upon arrival on site, and the confidence that the State of Rhode Island had in the construction industry to keep working during the shutdowns, we were able to keep the project moving forward and on track.”
“Rhode Island’s economic recovery is the strongest in the nation – according to Moody’s Analytics – thanks in part to the construction and completion of key projects such as the Aloft hotel,” said Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor. “Our state never shut down the construction industry during the pandemic and has since regained all of the construction jobs lost during the COVID crisis. With today’s hotel opening, the I-195 district becomes even more vibrant and gains even more momentum. Thank you to Dick Galvin of CV Properties, Boston Andes Capital, Chairman Bob Davis and the 195 Commission, and state and local elected officials for investing in this project and bringing it to fruition.”
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the opening of Aloft today,” said Robert Davis, Chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission. “Aloft complements the other developments in the District perfectly, providing desirable and convenient lodging for visitors to the District. We are especially pleased that this project was completed during the pandemic without delays.”
For CV Properties, LLC, President and Founder Richard Galvin, the event was a milestone. “This has been a truly remarkable experience and serves as a shining example of the extraordinary positive economic impact a successful public private partnership can have on a destination. Never in my career have I ever experienced such positive, supportive, and cohesive synergy as we did while working with the State, Commerce RI, the City of Providence, the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, our funding partners, and our stakeholders, including the Jewelry District Association and Rhode Island Hospitality Association,” said Richard Galvin. “We’re excited to watch the Aloft Providence Downtown thrive and serve as both an exciting hub of activity within the community and a place where travelers can stay and experience all that Providence and Rhode Island has to offer.”
