The Watermark by Baton Rouge Business Report

THE NEW WATERMARK BATON ROUGE BRINGS A FUSION OF HISTORY, ART AND LUXURY TO DOWNTOWN.

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

HISTORY & DESIGN

EXACTLY LIKE NOTHING ELSE AT A GLANCE ADDRESS: 150 Third St. WEBSITE: watermarkbr.com PHONE: (225) 408-3200 ROOMS: 144 AMENITIES: Bicycle rentals, business center, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, room service, restaurant MEETING SPACE: 2,295 square feet

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

THE FORMER Louisiana National Bank building on Third Street in downtown Baton Rouge initially interested developer Mike Wampold for different reasons than one might expect: its skyscraper status blocked his view of the Mississippi River. Upon further inspection, Wampold discovered a treasure trove of art and architecture. Wampold bought the 92-year-old building in 2014, and has since had it completely restored—transforming it into a new 144room Autograph Collection Hotel called Watermark Baton Rouge. The results are spectacular.

“It’s basically an arts hotel. We had a lot to work with, but we’ve built on top of that. The final product is just amazing,” Wampold says. “The building is so unique that you find surprises and features that are pretty exciting at every turn of the corner, on every floor.” Located at 150 N. Third St., the hotel includes 144 guest rooms, two restaurants, a fitness center and meeting space. The Watermark opened on Oct. 12.

THE AUTOGRAPH BRAND The Watermark Baton Rouge is being developed under the Autograph Collection

Hotels brand, which is owned by Marriott and has the tagline “exactly like nothing else.” After purchasing the building, Wampold says, a lot of thought and planning went into deciding its fate. “We studied the building to see if it could remain as an office building, apartments or a hotel,” he says. “We reached out to Marriott.” What’s appealing about the Autograph brand is that it allows the owner to name the hotel and develop its own style and identity for the property, Wampold says. “They encourage you to make the style of it indigenous to the area, and that’s what we’ve done,” Wampold says. The name of the hotel ties together the WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

HISTORY & DESIGN building’s banking history and its location near the Mississippi River. Stunning views of the Mississippi River, along with views of downtown Baton Rouge and LSU’s Tiger Stadium, greet guests in public spaces as well as private rooms.

HISTORY The Watermark Baton Rouge building was originally erected in 1924 as the home of Louisiana National Bank. With a central location in the heart of the city, the building served as a popular starting point for parades and marathons over the years. “It’s an iconic Baton Rouge landmark. It’s historical as it was Baton Rouge’s first skyscraper,” Wampold says, noting that the Louisiana State Capitol wasn’t built until the early 1930s. “Twelve-story buildings back in those days were quite a feat. Just the handwork on that building is incredible,” he adds. Although created in the Art Deco era, the building was built in the Greek Revival style. The design emphasized such elements as white marble, terrazzo floors, bronze fixtures and stonework details. As part of its transformation into a hotel, the building’s crown was updated with

new lighting to showcase the architecture. Additionally, color-changing LED lights now shine up the engaged fluted columns on the exterior. The original granite on the lower part of the building adds to the impressive view from the street, Wampold says. In 1949, the Louisiana National Bank commissioned eight bas relief style plaster murals by famed Louisiana artist Angela Gregory. Gregory studied art in Paris, and her sculptures are found throughout Louisiana, including three public monuments and

sculptures on the Louisiana State Capitol building. At the Watermark, those murals painted by Gregory have been painstakingly preserved and adorn the ceilings of the magnificent lobby and restaurant. “The quality of the work of those murals, plus the restoration, is just amazing,” Wampold says. “Those murals make the room.” The Gregory murals feature commerce in Baton Rouge. Hotel guests will recognize the Mississippi River bridge, the old down-

EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER FOR

Watermark Hotel Baton Rouge

CALL 225-621-4100 | eatelbusiness.com 4

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

town Baton Rouge train depot and LSU’s Memorial Tower, among other familiar scenes and landmarks. In the 1960s, the building changed hands and became The State Office Building. It continued to house state workers up until the time Wampold acquired it.

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Design references from the ’20s to the ’60s to 2016 coexist within The Watermark, making it one of the most eclectic and interesting structures in downtown Baton Rouge. “It’s not intuitive,” says Douglas Detiveaux, an associate interior designer with Gensler, who worked on the Watermark project, “but when you effectively mix those elements together you create a really interesting design aesthetic.” Guests will be awed by the preservation of beautiful details from the last century that exist side by side with modern touches and conveniences. An original arched opening will greet those who arrive at the main entrance on Third Street. Glass canopies were added to provide overhead protection for arriving guests. In the entry vestibule, the original plaster ceiling featuring octagonal shapes with an inset floral rosette design has been restored. An antique Art Deco chandelier, with a contemporary ring or halo added around it, hangs from the ceiling. Although the lobby’s original fluted columns were destroyed, their profiles were still visible within the ceiling and have been re-created. “The columns, plus the ceiling work— it’s unlike anything else in Baton Rouge,” Wampold says. Also in the entry, lenticular artwork, in which the imagery changes when viewed from different angles, is one way in which modern technology is fused with history inside the hotel. A grand staircase leads guests from the first floor to the basement, the site of the original bank vaults, which provide the setting for a larger meeting space, called The Founders Room, a small breakout room, named The Depository, and a board room, called The Vault. In addition to the main building guest rooms, some guests will have the unique experience of spending the night in an annex building located on the property. It was originally built with no windows, so skylights were added to provide natural light. “It’s really kind of unusual, but very cool,” Detiveaux says.

CONGRATULATIONS! LaPorte is proud of our 30+ years partnering with Wampold Companies, and we celebrate the opening of the Watermark Hotel. Here’s to another successful project.

LaPorte.com

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

ROOMS & AMENITIES

The Gregory offers a spectacular setting and a modern farm-to-table dining experience.

ELEGANCE WITH AN EDGE THE WATERMARK’S first floor includes the lobby and two dining options. The Gregory, an upscale restaurant named after the artist Angela Gregory, is centered between an open kitchen and a full bar and is surrounded by the Gregory murals. Chefs Drue Vitter and Chad Galiano have designed menus that utilize fresh and local produce and available organic proteins that offer twists on Southern classics in a modern farm-to-table dining experience. A deli, called Milford’s on Third, provides a second dining choice and has a separate

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

entrance on Third Street. Milford’s on Third pays homage to the New York style deli. The restaurant was inspired by Mike Wampold’s grandfather, Milford Wampold, who worked as a Jewish grocer in north Louisiana. Some of the patriarch’s unique recipes have been incorporated into the menu’s offerings of traditional salads, pastrami cured and smoked in house, and signature pickles. A fitness center and guest rooms occupy the second floor. Guest room doors have been modeled after safe or vault doors, with an antique

safe dial decorating the center of each one. The door hardware is designed to look like a vault door handle. The interior of the guest room is a blend of different styles. The bathroom’s white subway tile, black and white flooring and light fixtures all have a mid-century feel. Sliding barn doors separate the vanity from the rest of the bathroom. The furniture in the bedroom continues the mid-century look, while the custom wall covering on the headboard wall is an Art Deco motif. It was designed with a “WM”

Options include single rooms with king-sized beds and river views and double rooms that feature two plush, queen-sized beds.

Bathrooms and bedrooms all have a mid-century feel.

pattern for “Watermark,” but also transposed contains the initials of developer Mike Wamp old. Chevron carpet completes the look. Much of the artwork is by local artists. The Watermark’s art package was curated by Ann Connelly of Ann Connelly Fine Art, along with Douglas Detiveaux, an associate interior designer with Gensler. “It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to bring this historic landmark back to life as the Watermark hotel and The Gregory restaurant,” Wampold says. “Hopefully, we’ve done a good job for Baton Rouge, the state of Louisiana and those visiting our state for decades to come.”

The Gregory chefs Drue Vitter and Chad Galiano design menus that utilize fresh and local produce. WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

MEETINGS & EVENTS

CELEBRATE HISTORIC BATON ROUGE MEETING FACILITIES

Historic surroundings make for an interesting and inspiring event venue.

ONCE HOME TO a prominent bank, this 1927 iconic landmark building has been thoughtfully updated while maintaining the original character of Baton Rouge’s past. The original vault now plays host to stylish events and intimate corporate meetings. The dramatic Depository offers a creative working environment for small executive-style meetings. There are also mixed-use historical spaces that allow larger groups to engage and interact among some of the finest architectural details in the city. The Founders Room features 1,100 square feet of space for elegant receptions, banquets and celebrations, and the Vault is ideal for social events, corporate trainings and gatherings, holiday parties, and art exhibitions. Host a dinner party in the Private Dining Room where the Watermark’s culinary staff will serve culinary creations exploring the bounty of Louisiana’s local harvest. With its historic grandeur, impeccable services, and innovative audiovisual technology, the Watermark Baton Rouge Hotel is undeniably the most interesting and inspiring venue for your next meeting or event.

Congratulations to Wampold Companies on the completion of The Watermark Hotel. Postlethwaite & Netterville is proud to work with such an innovative team that is committed to building a better Baton Rouge.

REAL ESTATE ADVISORY: Financial Modeling and Feasibility, Construction Cost Monitoring, Transaction Advisory, Tax Compliance and Incentives, Project Accounting, Litigation Support.

A S S U R A N C E + C O N S U LT I N G + TA X S E R V I C E S + T E C H N O LO G Y 8

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

800.259.2922

w w w. P N C PA . c o m

The Founders Room features 1,100 square feet of space for elegant receptions, banquets and celebrations.

SERVICES & SPACES • 2,295 square feet of event space

• Catering services

• Four discreet event spaces

• Event planning

• Complimentary wired & wireless Internet

• Portable stage

• Photography services • Audiovisual equipment • Decorator services

• Computers & printers • Security services • 100 max. capacity in largest room

Reich Associates congratulates all who were involved in making the

Watermark, Baton Rouge

a success. This hotel sets

a new standard for upscale accommodations in downtown Baton Rouge. We are proud to be a part of the design team and future progress of Wampold Companies.

Reich Associates a design collaborative

Landscape Architecture Land Planning Urban Design Sustainable Design

301 S. T.J. Jemison Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA

225.336.5890

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

LOCATION

TO AIRPORT

RIVER RD.

IN THE HEART OF IT ALL

SPANISH TOWN RD.

THIRD ST.

3 NORTH ST. MAIN ST.

1. Louisiana State Capitol 3. Capitol Park Museum 4. Shaw Center for the Arts 5. Louisiana Art & Science Museum 6. Baton Rouge River Center 7. USS Kidd/Louisiana Veterans Memorial & Museum

LAUREL ST.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

2. Hollywood Casino

DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE

Capitol Park

FLORIDA ST. CONVENTION ST.

NORTH BLVD.

BEAUREGARD TOWN

8. North Boulevard Town Square 9. Belle of Baton Rouge Casino

110

10. Louisiana State University

GOVERNMENT ST. ST. FERDINAND ST.

9.9 miles to Southern University

ST. LOUIS ST.

6.9 miles to Baton Rouge Metro Airport

ST. PHILLIP ST.

RIVER R

LSU

WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

Are you ready for the

next big thing?

Congratulations to Wampold Companies – the Watermark is sure to be the next big thing in Downtown Baton Rouge. For more than 100 years, Whitney Bank has forged lasting relationships with companies both large and small. Let’s work together to create innovative financial solutions for your business.

225-248-7180

hancockwhitney.com

Issue Date: Watermark Hotel Ad proof #1

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • Ad will run as is unless approval or final revisions are received by the close of business today. Whitney Bank, Member FDIC. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Congratulations on the Opening of the

WATERMARK HOTEL Healthcare Condominiums Retail Stores Commercial Multi-family/apartments Hospitality Education State of Louisiana

8400 Jefferson Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70809 • 225-924-8050 • www.mjwomack.com WATERMARK BATON ROUGE . FALL 2016

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Thank you

Wampold Companies and Milton J. Womack for allowing Doyle Electric the opportunity to make another significant cultural and economic contribution to the greater Baton Rouge area!

â&#x20AC;?

15035 J EFF ER SON HWY. | 225 .36 7.1747 | DOYL E E L EC T R IC I NC. COM