Providing a modern yet sustainable sanctuary for the eco-conscious traveler, the Proximity Hotel is in a class by itself.
With its design of Proximity—the nation’s first LEED Platinum hotel and restaurant—Centrepoint Architecture proves the point that going green is not only virtuous, it is also now luxurious.
“The design embraces innovation as well as art and culture,” says Centrepoint’s Tom Murphy, AIA. “Consumers are hungry for that kind of singular experience. Delivering requires vision and determination.”
The Proximity experience starts as soon as the elegant building comes into view. Capping the roof is a crown of black triangles that tie seamlessly into the hotel’s signage. These triangles are actually solar panels, providing hot water and helping Proximity use 39 percent less energy than comparable hotels. Proximity also uses 33 percent less water, even as it offers guests uncompromising luxury.
Entering the AAA Four Diamond hotel, green blends seamlessly with design. Tall, flowing curtains make for a cool entry in summer and keep the cold at bay in winter. “Instantly you know this place is special,” explains Murphy. “As you walk to your room, visual sensations and green technology surround you. The experience is sustainable, sensual, and one you won’t forget.”
Employing more than 70-plus sustainable practices, including natural lighting, energy recovery, and use of regional vendors, helped Proximity earn the USGBC’s highest level of certification. From the swift, regenerative elevators (the
first in North America) sending electricity into the hotel grid to
the energy-saving geothermal
refrigeration system to the hotel’s extraordinary beauty, Proximity is a pace setter.
This luxury hotel—which pays a contemporary tribute to Greensboro’s textile heritage, and is named after the Proximity Manufacturing Cotton Mill and Proximity Print Works Mill—provides business and leisure travelers an environment that is not only restorative for them, but also for Mother Nature.
And Centrepoint is determined to keep up the pace. “We want clients who want to push the boundaries of design and technology,” says Jonathan Wolk, AIA, managing partner at the Raleigh-based firm. “Our job is to make breakthroughs possible and leave the world a better place.”
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