Some changes have been made to the future hotel that will transform Kelowna’s downtown core.
The hotel will now be eight storeys higher and feature an increased number of residential units, underground parking, a 16th floor restaurant and much more.
Photo Credit: Westcorp
The revamped application was formally submitted to the City by Westcorp on Thursday morning.
The biggest change is the addition of eight storeys, making it 32 floors in total with 174 hotel rooms and 49 residential units.
Photo Credit: Westcorp
That’s a nine unit increase on the old design, which featured 189 hotel rooms and 25 long-stay rental suites.
Parking will also be greatly improved in the new design, as they have found a way to move some of it underground.
Photo Credit: Westcorp
Previous there were 242 parking stalls in a large above-grade parking structure, but now there will be 156 underground stalls and 133 stalls above-grade.
The changes to parking also allowed the tower to be moved eastward away from Kerry Park, which allowed designers to add expansive terraces on the lower levels of the hotel.
Photo Credit: Westcorp
The extra space between the building and Kerry Park will also create larger patios for the ground level coffee shop and restaurant.
One of the coolest new features is what will be going in on the 16th floor of the tower.
Photo Credit: Westcorp
A public restaurant, private dining rooms and a culinary teaching kitchen facility will all be built, giving Kelowna residents a chance to dine hundreds of feet in the air with spectacular views of the city.
According to Westcorp, these changes and more will help the hotel project significantly reinforce the identity of the City and contribute to the emerging “Kelowna Brand.”
Photo Credit: Westcorp
The development group considers the following as key objectives for the hotel project:
- Create an iconic building on one of the most visible locations on the downtown waterfront.
- Create a high-end destination hotel with active and inviting public spaces adjacent to Kerry Park.
- Create first class conference space for business and social uses.
- Accommodate required parking on-site.
There are plenty of other changes in the design that will be made public in the coming days.
