In October 2024, doors opened on a beautiful exhibition of Utah’s pioneering spirit: a railroad-inspired luxury hotel in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Using the timeless style of the Union Pacific grand hall as inspiration, HKS Architects, Okland Construction and JNS Interior Design came together to meet the challenges of reimagining a historic landmark, including contradicting code requirements and the need for a public easement running directly through the property. Marriott’s Autograph Collection enlists a team of experts to transform Salt Lake City’s historic Union Pacific depot into a wonder of contemporary hospitality. With their combined expertise and expert eyes, the Asher Adams was born.
The project began with a restoration of the historically landmarked Grand Hall, now used as the Asher Adams’ high-end lobby. “Our intention was to brighten it up a bit, but let everything inside speak for itself,” says Kayla Goldberg, Associate Principal at JNS Architecture + Interior Design. New glass vestibule doors and clever architectural skylights allow more light into the hall, where a fresh coat of white paint and modernized fixtures shed light on original terrazzo flooring and restored locomotive artwork.
When it came to transforming the site into a functional hotel, two distinct designs emerged. In the historic building, 13 rooms celebrate the intersection of historic elegance and modern luxury. Era-appropriate materials shine in a variety of ways: Original exposed brick, steel columns and dormer windows allow the structure to speak for itself, while iron bed frames, brass hardware and sleek white subway tile bring these classic rooms into the modern age.
“The historic rooms are pretty classically adorned,” says Nicole Nathan, partner at JNS. “All the materials are very timeless and lasting, inspired by this enduring building, but we introduced them on pieces that are very modern.”
The hotel’s eight-story addition, which houses the bulk of the guest accommodations, proved to be a large challenge. The new tower had its own set of modern specs to be met, while acting as the ideal transition from vintage to modern as guests and visitors walk westward through the property. The team had to find a way to match the story of the historic building without it being an exact replica of style.
“You will notice two distinct facade articulations on the new tower,” says Emir Tursic, principal at HKS Architects. “We had to comply with two sets of guidelines that were very different from each other.”
On the east-facing side of the new tower, Tursic describes the facade as “cold and restrained, creating a backdrop for the historic building without distracting or competing.” On the west face, to match the eclectic context of The Gateway’s Olympic Legacy Plaza, dynamic contemporary architecture mirrors the urban setting.
According to Tursic, the unique curvature of the new tower was as much a practical decision as it was an aesthetic one. “The curvilinear shape allowed us to follow the property line as close as possible, and keep the new tower as far separated as we could to preserve the integrity of the historic building.”
Within the tower’s double-loaded corridors, 225 rooms stand dressed in industrial hardwares and menswear-inspired materials to help tell the story of the SLC’s beloved railway station in style. A darkened palette inspired by the grand hall subtly juxtaposes the two buildings: comforting greens, warm coppers and eye-catching blues make their way between sites. Thoughtfully curated artwork, from vintage postcards to bee-themed murals, offer nods to Utah’s industrious heritage.
Overall, the project was a balancing act of honoring tradition, while simultaneously stepping into the world of modern design. An architectural pioneer in itself, the hotel is the latest method of welcoming visitors into the bustling legacy of Salt Lake City.
“We took the idea of train travel and the feeling you get when traveling by train, and combined it with the ever-present Utah motifs of pioneering and a community ‘hive’ as we were developing concepts,” Goldberg shares. “It felt appropriate to use those two ideas to connect people in this space of hospitality.”
