Framing the Experience

SCHWEITZER’S NEW HOTEL, HUMBIRD

By Dig Chrismer

It can be hard for some of us to look at architectural plans and really understand just what’s going on. Lots of lines and diagrams explaining how the roof aligns, where the windows sit, even which direction the bathroom doors will open. For the untrained eye, it can be a little complicated to understand. Such was the case when I first glanced at the initial plans for Humbird, Schweitzer’s new boutique hotel in the heart of Schweitzer’s village. Couple this confusion with terms like “exposed beams,” “the Glass Room,” “CLT construction,” and I was quickly overwhelmed by details.

But as I’ve watched Humbird being built this past summer, it’s those details – the physical “coming to life” details – that are the most awe-inspiring to me. The exposed beams are rich in color and their sloping angles complement the existing nuances of our mountain’s terrain, the Selkirk Lodge’s gabled lines, and White Pine’s pitched roof peak. There is no doubt, Humbird is beautiful by design.

Humbird fills a real, practical need for Schweitzer. As Tom Chasse, Schweitzer CEO and president, has explained repeatedly there aren’t enough places for people to stay on the mountain. It’s challenging at best to find a room over weekends and holidays, so as Tom explains, “we hope Humbird will help ease that lodging crunch a bit.”

The 31-unit, ski-in/ski-out hotel is the creation of Portland-based architecture firm Skylab. Taking notes from Sandpoint’s strong timber and logging history, the design is contemporary in its flow and feel. According to Jeff Kovel, principal/design director at Skylab, “The building will be a state-of-the-art facility and feature heavy timber construction. Our goal is to provide a perfect venue for guests to relax, play, and revel in the natural beauty surrounding them.”

Left, architectural rendering of Humbird. Above, Humbird’s construction in full swing.

The timber connection and logging history of our area played heavily into the choice of Humbird’s name. As the story goes, back in the late 1800s, intrepid loggers arrived in the Sandpoint area working hard, long days for the local mills. One particular logging enterprise, The Humbird Lumber Company, was the lifeblood of Sandpoint’s economy and community in the early 1900s and an enduring point of local pride. Humbird was also the town’s general store, and the title sponsor of the local baseball team. Humbird’s impact on Sandpoint was tremendous – transforming the town from a population of about 400 people in 1900 to more than 3,500 in 10 years. The mill also changed the city’s demographics from a predominantly male-dominated enclave to a community brimming with families. The loggers themselves lived out of logging camps for months at a time. This motley collection of young and old men endured raw days in the forest, earning what money they could.

The camps were remote, and when the loggers came to town they were easy to spot wearing their flannels over long underwear, dirty logging jeans, and suspenders. Fastforward to 2021 and you may have just described half the people who have a ski pass to the mountain. Just replace the dirty jeans with Carhartts and the suspenders with Kinco gloves. Of course, the flannels remain along with the work hard-play hard mentality.

Schweitzer embraces that ethic and Humbird will provide our modern motley crew a well-earned place to rest after invigorating mountain activities. Just imagine, during the winter, the impressive interior fireplace will warm your toes as you sip a libation and celebrate your big ski day on the mountain. Summer season, sit outside of Crow’s Bench, Humbird’s 50-seat restaurant and bar, as the village bustles

Architectural renderings show a representation of what the interior spaces will look like. From top to bottom, Crow’s Bench restaurant, the new bar in Crow’s Bench, the interior of a room as seen from the room’s entrance, the opposite view from the window area.

with hikers and mountain bikers. Like the name suggests, birds of a feather will be able to find a spot to perch and take in the atmosphere with their nearest and dearest.

I can see all these moments clearly as I take in the impressive mass timber beams that are shaping Crow’s Bench. I stand in the unfinished restaurant and already I’m struck with the color, the warmth, and the way the wood literally frames the experience. It’s intentional, thanks to those timber beams and large expanses of glass, so that everywhere you look there’s a “framed” view. Visiting the guests’ rooms, all eyes are drawn east, with the impressive views of Lake Pend Oreille squarely in sight. Mixing elements of old and new, the rooms’ interiors will offer a unique hybrid experience. Simple in design with those large feature windows and exposed wood accents, the guest rooms will be appointed with crisp linens and Pendleton blankets, creating soft places to be after an active day.

What’s equally striking is the way Schweitzer is framed by smaller windows in the hallways, creating peek-a-boo glimpses of a mountain I thought I knew from every angle. Humbird will frame our Schweitzer experience just as Schweitzer’s past and natural beauty has framed the design. There is a realization that time spent in Humbird will be just as memorable as the moments on the mountain. Schweitzer’s goal hasn’t been just to add rooms – it’s to add to the experience, both visually and physically.

From plans on paper to larger-than-life beams, Humbird rises from the village as if it’s always meant to have been there. I couldn’t imagine before, but now I can’t wait to be just like one of those crows, enjoying the warmth of the views.

JULY 28-AUGUST 7, 2022