Sleeping Green: Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia offers LEED certified eco-friendly luxury

Boutique, sophisticated (and unfussy) luxury that is also true eco-friendly green marks the Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse neighborhood.

We ride the whimsically decorated elevator up to our floor - smiling at the image of a fireplace in the elevator complete with “painting” above it of an elegantly dressed woman painted with a white mustache.

Inside the sophisticated room are two plush robes for guest use - one striped as a zebra and the other spotted like a tiger. Although there is no coffee machine, one is supplied upon request. Fresh milk or cream will also arrive upon request.

There’s also the 24/7 fitness center with oranges, apples, and water, and a business center with rather pricy internet service ($7 for 15 minutes). A much better deal was to sign up for the (free) Kimpton rewards program that provided free internet for the duration of our stay. To continue the homey image, there’s also a dining room area where wines are poured for the enjoyment of guests from 5 to 6 PM every evening.

Try the sleek and colorful somewhat Asian themed bar for a late night drink and small plates. The Yakitory featured shrimp, chicken and beef with three dipping sauces, along with a glass of wine was the perfect end to a day spent traveling.

As with much of Philadelphia, Ben Franklin is a popular theme. There are pictures and sculpture of the man who did much to form the character of the city, but with a definite sense of whimsy. Busts of Franklin in several colors line one of the lobby walls and a painting graces the ceiling of the entrance. Look up as you enter..

The hotel is also both family- and pet-friendly. And, there are no weight or size limits on dogs.

Eco-friendly Green
Designed with LEED (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) registration in mind, the hotel - an adaptive reuse project of the Architects Building - is expected to achieve at least a Silver certification. As with virtually all LEED properties, there are energy saving fixtures, heating and air conditioning systems, water conserving systems. Lots of natural lighting (daylight in 90% of all hotel spaces) and at least 10% recycled content in the materials and resources used. Natural materials are used whenever possible - wood, recycled glass, wool rugs and carpeting, all cotton towels and sheets. Designer Dayna Lee also used muslin and linen as well as materials woven of recycled content.

The outside of the 1929 Art Deco building (designed by Paul Philippe Cret) is unchanged, but the inside required extensive renovation both to achieve the standards of the US Green Building Council for green, and the Kimpton standards for luxury.

A “green” tour of the hotel is under development which would show off the achievements of the hotel and educate the public as to the importance of eco-friendly practices.

Hotel Palomar
117 South 17th Street
Philadelphia
www.hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com
877 725 1778

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