Goettsch Partners-designed Grand Hyatt opens in Dalian, China

Goettsch Partners (GP), along with China Resources Land Limited, celebrated the grand opening of the Grand Hyatt Dalian. This GP-designed 44-story, 370-key hotel is located in China’s northeastern coastal city of Dalian, sited fronting the Yellow Sea and adjacent to the large public park of Xinghai Square.

“From the outset of the project we had one simple goal,” said Paul De Santis, LEED AP, principal at GP, “Every room should have a view of the sea.”

The resulting tower shape is triangular in plan to ensure that all bays receive southern light as well as views of the meandering coastline. Additionally, the arcing north façade and rounded corners of the tower help to divert the prevailing winds in both summer and wintertime conditions, minimizing the structural impact on the slender tower.

Programmatically, the hotel floors are stacked below the serviced apartment levels, enabling the core to telescope and creating the architectural “portal” along the north façade. Internal circulation is exposed on this face to provide all vestibules with ambient daylight and views of the Dalian skyline, while assuring a consistent lighting profile at night.

The tower’s façade is composed of floor-to-ceiling high-performance glazing to maximize the views, and horizontal metallic sunshades are sized for solar protection and privacy. In contrast, the tower sits atop a four-level podium clad in a mixture of warm limestone, stainless steel, and high-transparency glass that integrates well with the scale and materiality of the neighboring residential villas.

The podium also employs a series landscaped roofs and terraces which provide unique outdoor amenities and enhance the visual and energy performance of the project.  

“Above all, the tower planning and material selections are intended to be functional and timeless; not decorative or fashionable,” said De Santis. 

The podium houses large banquet, meeting, dining, fitness, and spa facilities. Hotel guests and visitors arrive at the complex by ascending a vehicular ramp to a second-level driving court and landscaped plaza that separates the main entrance from the activity surrounding Xinghai Square. This private plaza leads to a light-filled, second-level lobby with commanding views of the Sea to the south.

From the multi-storied lobby, all amenities are easily accessible. The all-day dining restaurant is located on the first level, with direct access to landscaped gardens and the beachfront. Banquet facilities are stacked along the eastern edge of the site with a separate drop-off area and lobby. The terraces and pre-function areas for both ballrooms are oriented specifically to maximize views of Xinghai Square. The fitness and spa programs sit atop the podium and are oriented to assure direct sun exposure for both the pool and the large outdoor terraces in the afternoon.

The top two levels of the tower feature a signature restaurant, offering dramatic views in all directions.

In total, the new Grand Hyatt Dalian features 28 suites, 84 serviced apartments, two ballrooms, meeting facilities, three restaurants, a spa, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and 225 parking spaces.

All photos courtesy GP.