Marriott Renaissance, London, United Kingdom

The Marriott Renaissance is a new 245-room Renaissance-branded hotel under a management contract with Manhattan Loft Corporation. The property is a conversion of the 323,000ft² Midland Grand Hotel, which is located at St Pancras station in London, UK.

The original building was designed by architect George Gilbert Scott and was opened to guests on 5 May 1873 after a complex construction process.

The total cost for the original building, which housed 300 rooms, all with fireplaces, was £438,000. Its architecture is a mix of styles, but is mainly based on a polychromatic Italian Gothic design inspired by John Ruskin's Stones of Venice.

The hotel was built adjacent to Barlow's great train shed to serve St Pancras rail station and functioned as such until 1935 when the facilities became outdated and too expensive to run.

The hotel was converted into offices for British Railways, renamed St Pancras Chambers and used until the 1980s when the building was closed and left empty after failing its fire certificate.

St Pancras regeneration

St Pancras Station was refurbished and opened in December 2007 as a transit hub and terminus for Eurostar trains in London, via the new North Kent high-speed rail link.

This renewed interest in the old Midland Grand Hotel, which is owned by London and Continental Railways, and a project was conceived in late 2006 to convert the building into a luxury hotel with apartments.

The new project will cover an area of 29,399m² and developmental works are being carried out. The project is costing an estimated £150m and will see the upper floors of the building converted into 68 apartments (the cheapest of which has sold for £1m) along with a 245-room hotel scheduled to open in May 2011. The facility was initially expected to be completed by 2009, but a delay in construction means that completion is postponed to May 2011.

The development requires that an additional wing - the Barlow House - be added to the original building to house 193 rooms. This will be constructed opposite the British Library.

English Heritage has insisted that the addition be in the style of the original architecture because the original hotel building is Grade I listed.

The new Barlow House wing was the centre of controversy over what design elements were to be incorporated, but the matter was settled and, although foundations were taken from a different building, the wing's new red brick facades will be an aesthetically pleasing addition to the Marriott Renaissance hotel.

A grand staircase will be constructed to enhance the glory of the hotel. The construction is being carried out with materials that match the old building.

Accommodation at the Marriott Renaisaance

The hotel will have 245 guestrooms including 38 Victorian suites. The new extension Barlow House will be 120,000ft² in area. All the internal rooms, which are of historic significance, will be restored to their former splendour. The main building will house 52 guestrooms, with the remainder in the new bedroom wing.

The amenities will include high-speed internet access, flatscreen TVs and in-room safes.

Meeting and events facilities

The Marriott Renaissance will have nine meeting rooms. Hansom Hall, the largest meeting room with 4,865ft² space, can accommodate up to 550 people. In addition, there will be a function room, ballroom and business centre.

Dining and other facilities

The Gilbert Scott restaurant at Marriott Renaissance will offer classic British food items. It will be run by famous chef Marcus Wareing. The hotel will also feature the Booking Office Bar, which will serve Victorian and Contemporary punches, ales, ciders and perries.

The hotel will also have a spa, swimming pool, a health and leisure centre and a fitness centre.

Contractors for the Marriott Renaissance

The new hotel involves contractors who are experts in their respective sectors. The scheme is being developed by Manhattan Loft Corporation and was designed by RHWL Architects in conjunction with Richard Griffiths Architects.

The main contractor of the project is Galliford Try Construction. The interior design contract was awarded to GA Design.