Hotel Marcel, the first-ever net-zero emission hotel in the US, will open to visitors by the early spring of 2022.Â
The hotel will be the first passive house-certified hotel in the country. It will be located in New Haven, Connecticut, just 1.5 miles from Yale University and around 80 miles from New York City.
The net-zero energy building will meet 100% of its requirements for electricity, heat, and hot water through energy generated from a rooftop solar array and solar parking canopies. The entire building, including the kitchen and laundry, will be powered by on-site renewable energy- a first in the US.
The cube-shaped hotel is a visual treat with its symmetrical rigor, patterned outer facades, and recessed windows. It has 165 rooms, restaurants, and bars over an area of 110,000 sq ft.
Hotel Marcel was first designed in 1967 in the Brutalist style by Marcel Bereuer and was first bought by Armstrong Tire. In 2003, it was bought by the furniture retailer IKEA but was kept unused.
In Jan 2020, it was purchased by developers Becker and Becker for $1.2 million to turn it into a green building using solar energy.
Original features of the hotel have been enhanced by detailing the geometric exterior window panels in wood and highlighting the gridded ceiling with custom lenses on its recessed lights.
The building architect, Redman Becker, himself bought 1072 of the 1100 solar panels that will provide 100% electricity for the hotel. High-performance triple-glazed windows will provide ultra-efficient insulation and block out sound coming from the highway. Built-in sheer and blackout windows will reduce the lighting energy by over 30%.
Other amenities of the hotel include 12 on-site Tesla superchargers for electric vehicles, Mitsubishi variable refrigerated flow air-source heat pumps, and an energy recovery system.
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