Contemporary Curved Tower Trademark of 200 Room Full-Service
Curio Collection by Hilton
SAN ANTONIO (Sept. 7, 2022) – The City of San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) has approved the conceptual design of a 200-room hotel proposed by Zachry Hospitality in a Public/Private Partnership with the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC).
Overland Partners Architects designed the full-service hotel, to be owned and operated by Zachry Hospitality as a Curio Collection by Hilton. The project is situated in the Hemisfair District on roughly 1.5 acres near the intersection of South Alamo and Market Streets, steps from downtown San Antonio’s key cultural assets including La Villita, The Alamo, the River Walk, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and Hemisfair’s Civic Park.
“I appreciate our partners for their unwavering perseverance and collaboration. Together with our community, we will create one of the premier resident and visitor destinations in the country. We extend congratulations to our city leaders as we continue this ambitious journey reimagining today’s Hemisfair,” said David Zachry, Zachry Corporation President and CEO.
The terraced base of the seventeen-story hotel will feature ground floor retail, multiple restaurants, a rooftop bar, and a garden with public art – all accessible to the public at ground level from Civic Park and South Alamo Street. Environmentally sustainable design elements are found in the use of native stone, lush vegetation and water features integrated throughout the project, reflecting the natural elements created by the Balcones Escarpment that runs through the region.
The iconic curved tower is oriented to provide guests with panoramic views of the park to the east and city views to the west and north, overlooking the River Walk and the distinctive public art piece Torch of Friendship at the juncture of Commerce, Market, and South Alamo Streets. The rooftop terrace will also offer enviable views of The Alamo grounds.
“With the support of the City and HPARC, Overland Partners and Zachry Hospitality relish the opportunity to construct what will become a signature piece of architecture along San Antonio’s skyline, while embracing and celebrating the cultural history and verdant attributes of the park,” said Bob Shemwell, FAIA, Overland Senior Principal, and recognized leader in sustainable design.
Construction of the 200-room hotel is expected to begin this fall, with the goal of opening its doors to welcome guests in 2025 for the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
The first phase of the revitalization of Hemisfair began in 2015 with Yanaguana Garden – 4.1 acres of thriving landscaping, towering arbors, plenty of shaded seating, adaptive play equipment, a sand play area and a splash pad. Since opening, the garden has hosted more than 3.5 million visitors – 84 percent of which are San Antonians. Adjacent to Yanaguana Garden, HPARC executed its first Public/Private Partnership for the development of a mixed-income and mixed-use residential tower known as The ’68 Apartments.
Civic Park at Hemisfair is currently under construction and its first phase is expected to open in 2023. It will feature an event lawn with capacity for more than 10,000 people; The Springs, an acre of beautiful water features; and a connecting promenade that will link all areas of the Hemisfair District. The park will offer enriching and captivating experiences, while becoming a catalyst for economic growth and private investment, resulting in a vibrant urban destination for visitors and locals alike.
“Each day Hemisfair is one step closer to creating one of the world’s great public places, and a hotel, especially one that is designed to connect with the rich history of San Antonio while celebrating the natural elements of Hemisfair, helps us reach our goal,” said Andres Andujar, Hemsifair CEO. He added that “While a majority of the built area in the Hemisfair District will be mixed-income residential, a hotel delivers on the strategy that a mix of uses is vital to the long-term sustainability of the Hemisfair neighborhood.”
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About Hemisfair
The Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC) was created by City Council in 2009 to redevelop the former site of the 1968 World’s Fair in San Antonio, Texas. HPARC is dedicated to the transformation of Hemisfair into a sustainable, self-funded urban district with residences, local businesses, unique programming and three parks—Yanaguana Garden, Civic Park (Phase II) and Tower Park (Phase III). Hemisfair is where San Antonio meets: it is a vibrant gathering place for a day with friends and the city’s biggest celebrations. HPARC is a 501(c)3 local government corporation, supported in part by the Hemisfair Conservancy, an independent 501(c)3. For more information, visit hemisfair.org and follow @hemisfair.
To learn more about Zachry Hospitality, visit zachryhospitality.com.
To learn more about Overland Partners, visit overlandpartners.com.
Contact: Meredith Balzen, 210-842-1003, Meredith.balzen@hemisfair.org
