Hotel Commonwealth
Boston, Massachusetts
Industry
- Hospitality
Region
- Northeast
Scope
- Art Curation
Client
- Sage Hospitality Group
Highlights:
1,100+ artworks in two buildings
Five student commissions from Boston University
Original photography book produced for the Rathskeller Suite
Custom designed artwork for all guest rooms
Press/Media
May 4, 2015, “Hotel Commonwealth Debuts Lobby Redesign,” Lodging Magazine
May 4, 2015, “Hotel Commonwealth Unveils Renovated Lobby,” Hotel Business
The Story
Originally developed by Boston University (BU), Hotel Commonwealth first reinvigorated Kenmore Square in 2003. With the renovation and expansion beginning in 2014, the boutique hotel’s modern and eclectic aesthetic nods to Boston’s colonial roots, New England’s nautical ties, the site’s gritty past life, nearby Fenway Park, and the hotel’s association with BU. The collection features fine art by BU students, alumni, and faculty among works by other Massachusetts artists.
On the site where Hotel Commonwealth now stands was once, from the mid-1970s until the 1990s, The Rathskeller (nicknamed The Rat), an iconic, live music venue that became a Boston rock-and-roll institution. As a tribute to the former club, Hotel Commonwealth designed the Rathskeller Suite with historic rock-and-roll artifacts and photographs from the club’s glory days, including a book made specifically for the suite. The SoHo suite, designed to create an artist’s loft vibe, highlights the hotel’s connection to BU and features art from current and former BU art students and faculty. Leveraging Hotel Commonwealth’s rich history, NINE dot ARTS curated an art experience that pays homage to Boston’s past, present, and future while celebrating the city’s vibrant artistic community.
