Challenge
The Gettys Group and Deep Cove Partners secured the acquisition of land in Nashville, TN with the goal of creating a premiumized TownePlace Suites hotel. Creating the look and atmosphere of a new hotel is a complex undertaking, with every design decision needing to be weighed and approved by a wide range of stakeholders.
The Gettys Group needed a robust iterative design process where decisions could be made quickly and efficiently. Seeking a trusted visualization partner, the company was introduced to Theia Interactive by NVIDIA.
Solution
Working in close partnership with The Gettys Group, Theia created a fully rendered, high-quality 3D build of the hotel in a virtual reality environment. Using Unreal Engine and its Optim collaborative template, the virtual model focused on guest rooms, lobby areas, and the rooftop bar and restaurant.
By utilizing CloudXR and AWS, the design review process was democratized for all stakeholders. The virtual model allowed designers to change every aspect of the design, including furniture, flooring, paint schemes, and more. Dynamic lighting gave designers an understanding of how details appear in daylight and at night.
We were hoping to use VR as a design tool for our interiors team, architects, project management and operators to achieve a shared vision, design budget and schedule, and it worked brilliantly.
— Ron Swidler, Chief Innovation Officer, The Gettys Group
Outcome
The completed hotel, including 204 suites and studios, a 50-person meeting space, outdoor courtyard, and rooftop bar and restaurant, opened in Nashville's Capitol District in October 2020. The hospitality management company immediately saw the potential, leasing a coffee shop in the lobby in addition to the rooftop venue.
Based on the success of the project, The Gettys Group plans to continue working closely with Theia to achieve their design goals, exploring a larger initiative that will serve as a streamlined design methodology for how they design and document.
