SHLD Awards Finalist Summary

Congratulations, Hotel Verdant has been selected as a SHLD Awards Finalist!

Your project was evaluated by the following judges:

Laurie Woliung

HSDC/MindClick Advisor
Fred Brandstrader

Vice President - Construction and Capital Expenditures Hyatt
Ashley Michaels

Sr. Manager Product Experience & Prototypes Global Design, Hilton
Robert Stuckey

Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development-AHLA
Michelle Finn

VP Design + Construction Products & Services The BHN Group
Kavitha Iyer

VP Architecture & Design
Choice Hotels International
Diane Nguyen

Vice President of Design at Highgate Hotels
Kari Olsen Carr

Senior Vice President at Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
Vanessa Stanley

Vice President of New Builds + Portfolio Strategies at PM Hotel Group
Robyn Kaminski

Senior Director, Design Strategy at Marriott International

Here is how your project was evaluated:

Vision (25% of Total Points)

Scoring Guidance Statement: The project presents a clear and inspiring design intent that elevates the guest experience and aligns with the property’s goals.

The project’s design intent is clearly communicated and aligns with the property’s goals.
The guest experience envisioned through the design is meaningful and well articulated.
The overall vision is distinctive and contributes to a memorable and transformative stay experience.
The use of color, form, materials, and lighting enhance the overall ambiance and guest experience.

Creativity (25% of Total Points)

Scoring Guidance Statement: The design demonstrates original, purpose-driven thinking that achieves distinctive results beyond conventional solutions.

The project demonstrates original thinking that goes beyond standard design approaches.
The design achieves a clear purpose while delivering creative, unconventional results.
The project reflects innovation that enhances both the guest experience and the property’s identity.
The project demonstrates creative thinking in the reuse, repurposing, or refurbishment of existing materials or furnishings.

Execution (25% of Total Points)

Scoring Guidance Statement: The project integrates sustainability, design, budget, and guest experience into a cohesive and achievable solution.

The project balances design intent, sustainability goals, and budget while maintaining strong attention to detail and collaboration.
The design integrates sustainability cohesively into the guest experience and overall project execution.
The design caters to the practical needs of guests and staff, including room layout, public spaces, amenities, and service flow, as appropriate for the category.
The project shows consideration for the long-term life of the design, with durable choices that can adapt to future updates or refinements.

Impact (25% of Total Points)

Scoring Guidance Statement: For this question, Judges were asked to refer to the Impact & Wellness Overview (see below) provided by MindClick, to better understand the project's impact*

*Analysis based upon the available Product Intelligence™ associated with the vendors selected for the project. MindClick’s Product Intelligence™ comes from verifying product sustainability attributes throughout the product lifecycle. This verification requires vendor completion of the MindClick Sustainability Assessment Program

Hotel Verdant

Category: Guest Room, Public Space
Design Firm: The Gettys Group

Design Narrative

Opened in 2023, Hotel Verdant has become a defining catalyst for the revitalization of Downtown Racine, Wisconsin—an ambitious adaptive reuse that restored a beloved landmark and reshaped the life of Monument Square. Once the historic Zahn Department Store, the building had sat vacant since 1982, its absence felt in the heart of the city. Reimagining it as a contemporary boutique hotel required not only design expertise, but a commitment to sustainability, community value, and thoughtful reinvention. In 2024, the project’s achievements were recognized with the LEED Gold Award, affirming its position as a model for regenerative, adaptive reuse.

The redevelopment balanced preservation with innovation. A new building addition, crafted to complement the original 1925 structure, was designed in full accordance with the National Park Service Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines—an essential step in securing historic tax credits. The project’s most complex challenge, the rooftop bar, demanded surgical structural reinforcement and meticulous coordination across design, engineering, constructability, and budget. The result is a discreetly integrated fifth floor that elevates the guest experience without sacrificing the building’s historic integrity.

Sustainability shaped every decision. The project’s LEED Gold certification is supported by geothermal wells beneath the new addition, a green roof that manages stormwater, and rooftop solar panels that meaningfully reduce energy consumption. Interior finishes and FF&E were selected with equal intention—prioritizing low-VOC materials, natural fibers, durable finishes, and manufacturers with transparent, responsible supply chains. These selections not only improved indoor air quality but contributed to the hotel’s long-term operational wellness.

The design narrative celebrates Racine’s Danish heritage and its connection to the natural rhythms of Lake Michigan. Hotel Verdant presents a modern expression of hygge—layered, warm, and rooted in nature. A sculptural copper fireplace anchors the lobby as Racine’s new “living room,” while blond woods, textured upholstery, organic forms, and a soothing palette create a sense of comfort and belonging. A central light well floods the interiors with sunlight, transforming the guest experience with an unexpected connection to the outdoors.

Across 80 nature-infused guestrooms, a rooftop garden bar, a wood-fired Italian restaurant, wellness amenities, and refined event spaces, Hotel Verdant demonstrates how adaptive reuse, sustainable systems, and human-centered design can revive not only a building, but the spirit of a city. It stands as a testament to how thoughtful hospitality can build community, honor history, and elevate everyday experience.