Arizona Biltmore a Waldorf Astoria Resort

  • Prize
    Honorable Mention in Interior Design / Hospitality: Hotel and Resort
  • Company/Firm
    Virserius Studio
  • Lead Designer
    Therese Virserius
  • Design Team
    Jihee Youn, Eryka Ubertini, Anuradha Soman
  • Const. Company
    Genesee, White & Turner
  • Location
    Phoenix, Arizona
  • Project Date
    May 2021

Virserius Studio’s charge was to reimagine and reposition the historic Arizona Biltmore - A Waldorf Astoria resort. Many of the original elements of the Biltmore had been modified or eliminated through the years. This major scale, $70 million project began with a new master plan for the resort. This led to the creation of the new adult pool, Saguaro named after the 70’ Saguaro cactus that was sourced and placed at the head of the pool. The Spire Bar and Lawn event space as well as the reimagination of the Wright’s Bar and the individual guest cottages. Considered an architectural masterpiece, the Biltmore showcases the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, who consulted on the hotel with his protégé, Albert Chase McArthur, whose own important influences are woven throughout the original design. Our goal was to honor their respective legacies but bring the resort into the 21st century and beyond. Essentially this project was a once in a Century opportunity.

With an eye on the hotels unique place in history, we focused on securing its place in the future.