Take a peek inside The Langham before it reopens in 2020
The historic hotel is getting a massive makeover.
The Langham, Boston, closed its doors in April for a $80 million-plus, year-long renovation and will reopen in spring of 2020.
The 97 year-old building in the Financial District first opened in 1922 as the original Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. This will be the building’s first major upgrade since it was converted into a hotel in 1981.
“It will become one of the most luxurious properties not only in Boston but in the United States,” said Jennyfer Lacroix, director of design and construction for Langham Hospitality Group.
On the outside of the building, the awnings will change from red to black, a new canopy will grace the entrance, and new nighttime lighting “will make it become kind of a gem in the square,” Lacroix said.
A rendering of The Langham, Boston, after renovations are complete.
Inside, the renovations will include a nod to the building’s past, Lacroix said.
“We have tried very much to respect what the building is, to really keep that heritage aspect of it,” Lacroix said. “That was very important. The interior, although fresh, new, and modern with a twist, is actually bringing you through the storytelling of the building.”
Green tones on the walls in the reconfigured lobby are inspired by the color of bank notes, Lacroix said, and the counters are inspired by bank tellers.
A rendering of the lobby reception
The hotel’s former lobby will be transformed into a signature bar, Lacroix said, and details about that space — as well as the hotel’s new restaurant — will be released at a later date. Inside the new lobby lounge, guests can relax beside a fire on furniture that’s a mix of classic and modern.
A rendering of the lobby lounge.
There will be 312 rooms and suites, said Lacroix, redone in light tones such as blue and cream.
“The design of the rooms was inspired by the New England style, but in a fresh way, in a more modern way,” Lacroix said.
Rooms will sport cabinets inspired by old-fashioned travelers’ trunks and carefully selected artwork, she said.
“Our chairman is an art collector himself, so we really pay attention to make sure the art that’s in our hotels has a significant meaning for who we are, for the location of the hotel, for the story of the building,” Lacroix said.
A guest room at the Langham, Boston.
The guest room bathrooms will, for the first time, offer walk-in showers.
“The bathrooms will be very bright and light, made with marble material for the vanity top and also the floor,” Lacroix said.
A rendering of a guest bathroom.
Lacroix is especially fond of the hotel’s new lofts.
“They are very interesting because they are two floors and the bedroom is on the upper floor,” Lacroix said. “They are really amazing. I really love them.”
On the first level is a dining room and living room beside very tall windows, she said.
“The frames are all made of embossed brass and they are beautiful, so we are restoring them to their original condition,” she said.
A rendering of a loft suite at The Langham, Boston.
The Chairman’s Room is the most luxurious of the hotel’s rooms. It’s furnished with a king bed, hardwood floors, a living room complete with a piano, a pantry, a comfortable desk, and a “generous” dining room.
A rendering of the Chairman’s Salon inside the Chairman’s Room.
Guests will have access to a new Club Lounge, “a signature of the Langham,” on the eighth floor, Lacroix said. The room offers food and drink service throughout the day, cocktail hour, VIP check-in and check out, and areas to relax, work, and socialize. For a fee, guests can add lounge access to their stay.
A rendering of the Club Lounge.
The new Lincoln Ballroom will replace the former Café Fleuri. The room will accommodate 200 guests. Skylights, flanked by chandeliers, will allow plenty of natural light, Lacroix said.
“The audio and video will be state of the art,” she said.
A rendering of the Lincoln Ballroom.
The Governor’s Room boardroom will remain. Its updates include plaid carpeting, mahogany furnishings, and historic maps of New England.
A rendering of the Governor’s Room.
The historic Wyeth Room, which features murals by American artist and illustrator N.C. Wyeth, will also remain, but receive fresh paint and carpeting.
A rendering of the Wyeth Room.
“The city is special, the project is special, the property is special,” said Lacroix. “To me, this is one of the gems of the portfolio.”
