Ada Hotel

Situated between the Thornapple and Grand Rivers, Ada, Michigan is a burgeoning small-town whose recent renaissance is fueled by a spirit of hospitality and inclusion. Inspired by a long lost, namesake historic property, the new Ada Hotel stands at the heart of the city’s efforts to welcome and celebrate community members and tourists alike. Partnership with the community has proven key to the development of this property and to the redevelopment of the village as a whole – complete with new restaurants, boutiques, and leisure destinations in a tree-lined downtown center.

Building on a long-standing client relationship, OTJ served as interior architect and worked in close collaboration with the base building architect, Dixon Architecture. Our team delivered a holistic set of recommendations that enhance the open quality of the lobby while creating the wall space necessary to tell the story of the town through artifacts, photographs, and site-specific art. Our team also reconfigured staircases to elegantly intersect three levels of communal space. The program, comprised of one-bed king rooms, two-bed queen rooms, a family bunk room, and suites, offers guests an array of plush, family-friendly accommodations from which guests can explore neighboring cultural and culinary offerings. On-site dining options include Rix, a 130-seat restaurant named in honor of the town’s founder, Rix Robinson, as well as a 110-seat pub, The Post Tavern. In addition, a state-of-the-art exercise center and unique fitness suites, complete with Peloton bikes sure to appeal to wellness-minded guests. Lastly, the Ada Hotel serves as a fulcrum for community engagement with an oversized second-level lounge that can be reserved by local groups for popup social and civic events.

Aesthetically, the design interprets the town’s historic landmarks through a contemporary lens offset by warmth and approachability. Ada’s beloved wood-truss covered bridge, for instance, is evoked by warm wood interior finishes that serve as a visual conduit between the atrium and the first-floor restaurant. Soothing textural elements such as a molded topographical pattern deployed on the atrium ceiling reference the hotel’s pastoral surroundings. Further, our design narrative connects indigenous and settlement stories. Working in close collaboration with DeGroot Fine Art, we selected pieces that bridge the town’s past, shaped by a diverse group of women and the Native Ottawa Community, and its present. Examples include a bespoke wallcovering inspired by traditional basket weaving that hangs in the lobby as well as a curated collection of historic photographs interspersed throughout the property.