Hyatt Regency’s lobby, eateries to get $1.3M makeover

The new owners of the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis hotel are promising the downtown landmark’s lobby will look more modern and better defined when a $1.3 million overhaul is completed by the end of February.

“We wanted to differentiate the lobby space from the office tower,” said Hyatt Regency General Manager Joe Pinto, referring to commercial office space in the same building as the hotel, sharing a massive atrium.

“The design is really amazing," Pinto said. "People will come in and not even recognize the place. It’s going to be more activated and animated. It’s going to absolutely be more inviting.”

Schedule to begin Jan. 4, the revamp will be the first of two rounds of renovations planned for the hotel that opened in 1977. The other phase—which will take place in 2017—will include a renovation of the second floor, including 35,000 square feet of meeting space and ballrooms used for myriad gatherings. That renovation is likely to cost close to $1 million, Pinto said.

In January, Hyatt Corp. sold the Hyatt to a joint venture of New York-based Silverpeak Real Estate Partners and Atlanta-based Davidson Hotels & Resorts. The hotel retains the Hyatt's name under Davidson's management.

The Hyatt, which lists its address at 1 S. Capitol Ave., adjoins the PNC Center at 101 W. Washington St., which houses PNC Bank and other businesses.

The lobby overhaul will include new flooring and furniture, as well as a remodel of the One South restaurant and the Level One bar.

Perhaps the most dramatic visual change will be the addition of a blue trellis suspended about 14 feet overhead throughout the lobby. Several beams will be erected in the lobby to support the structure. Other trellises of varying height will provide design accents.

In addition, a large, suspended light sculpture will be installed the center of the lobby.

The remodel is designed, Pinto explained, so that “the lobby becomes sectioned into areas delineated by high activity and relaxed quiet zones, yet connected as one congruent space.”

One South will be renamed Fat Rooster Diner, with an emphasis on farm-to-table fare. The pasta bar at the restaurant will be expanded, Pinto said.

“We want to give that space a more contemporary feel,” Pinto said. “It will feel less like a cafeteria.”

Level One’s overhaul will include moving the over-21 barrier to allow families with children to dine there. Both restaurants will receive new furniture, Pinto said.

“Level One will be a great place to go to relax and have a drink or take the family for a sandwich or salad,” Pinto said.  

Level One will be closed in January for the overhaul. One South will be closed in February for its transformation to Fat Rooster Diner.

The lobby’s sitting areas and other common spaces will be remodeled. Some lobby features—like the self-check-in area—will be removed, while other features such as televisions will be added. The lobby’s seating capacity will be doubled, Pinto said,and some of the seating areas will be serviced by wait staff from Level One.

In 2013, the Hyatt Regency completed a $20 million renovation that included all 499 of its rooms. The move helped the hotel get upgraded from a AAA three-diamond rating to a four-diamond rating later that year.

“All the area hotels are critically important to our ability to attract conventions, trade shows and leisure visitors. They’re in an important part of the package we sell,” said Visit Indy Vice President Chris Gahl. “Any hotel improvement is another arrow in our quiver.”