The Slate Denver, a Tapestry Hotel by Hilton, officially opened its doors to guests on May 24—but the building’s historical use dates back almost a century. Originally built in 1926 as the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, the schoolhouse-turned-hotel is an honored historical site. And HSM’s FF&E Project Procurement team had the privilege of working with the hotel’s ownership, interior design firm and more than 70 FF&E suppliers to preserve the building’s cherished history. Owned by WelArm Land, LLC, the 4-story, 251-room hotel design is inspired by the property’s educational roots, from vintage alarm bells, typewriter artwork and original staircases to the school-themed meeting rooms, restaurant, and bar
“Since the project’s inception, we’ve worked hard to maintain the integrity of the hotel’s foundation, honoring the legacy of the Emily Griffith Opportunity School and its vast impact on generations of Denver residents,” said Kirby Kiner, general manager of The Slate Denver. “May is Teacher Appreciation Month, and we and our longtime partner Hilton couldn’t think of a better time to open our doors and invite guests into our reinvented schoolhouse.”
HSM and the Owner have teamed up on various FF&E projects in the past, including outfitting the management group’s dual-branded Home2/Tru hotel at the Denver Convention Center in 2019. When partnering on The Slate, our project procurement experts worked directly with Portland-based design firm, The Society, and bid the project’s fully customized FF&E package to a wide array of suppliers. From soft seating and mirrors to decorative lighting and schoolhouse décor, HSM priced out the entire FF&E package to vetted suppliers, providing a range of options and price points for procurement, including many of the art installations—for the entire property, balancing period-appropriate historical elements with a careful blend of modern décor to create a rich juxtaposition for guests. In total, approximately 300 specific items for The Slate were sourced from over 70+ suppliers around the world.
“Working on FF&E projects within an adaptive use space creates an exciting opportunity to re-purpose buildings of significance, and in this instance, adding a new hospitality narrative for the future while preserving the local scholastic history,” said Jason Bramhall, Senior Director at HSM. “HSM’s Project Procurement team was honored to partner on this custom transformation, delivering a distinct, new hotel experience to the city of Denver.”
Despite ongoing supply chain challenges throughout the renovation process, The Slate Denver proudly opened with a ceremony that included ringing its historic Opening Bell and inviting guests to experience a timeless property reimagined. Our procurement experts were proud to work alongside the entire team to help preserve and restore a piece of Denver history, and we look forward to toasting the Slate’s ongoing success at their aptly named bar, The Teachers’ Lounge.
If you have a renovation or new build on the horizon and want to discuss what our FF&E experts can do for you, reach out to HSMx@hilton.com or talk to your Strategic Accounts advisor.
