SHLD Awards Finalist Summary

Congratulations the Renaissance Boston Seaport District 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

Renaissance Boston Seaport District

Category: Guest Room, Public Space
Design Firm: Parker Torres

Design Narrative

Concept Design Narrative:

REFRACTION: Refraction can be defined as the bending of light as it passes through one medium to another. In a similar nature, the passage of time has shifted the story of the seaport and the people of the neighborhood. The renaissance will reflect the influence of the past while providing a refreshing look into its future.

A PLACE OF INDUSTRY - FISH PIER, 1917: It’s 5 am and the inky blue water of the harbor reflects the light of the rising sun. As the boat pulls into Fish Pier, the calm quiet harbor quickly comes to life with bustling activity as fishermen hawk their catch to the highest bidder.

AN EMERGING IDENTITY - BOSTON WHARF ART LOFTS, 1980: It's 5 pm and after preparing all month for her exhibit, an artist is ready to share her work with the world. Grateful for the other experimental artists living and working in these lofts, a city that reveres fine art above all else is slowly warming up to her contemporary style.

A NEIGHBORHOOD REIMAGINED - THE SEAPORT, 2022: If the fishermen & artist were to walk down the street today, would they recognize the seaport? Probably not, but they would recognize their modern selves reflected in the spirit of the neighborhood today.

Juxtaposed between warehouses & skyscrapers, city & sea, the seaport continues to innovate & inspire. The renaissance will celebrate the seaport’s gritty origin and modern energy through reinventing raw elements of the past while celebrating its boundless future.

Sustainable Design Narrative:

In this project, sustainability is not treated as a feature but as the foundation upon which every design decision was built. The interior environment was conceived as a living system—one that reduces environmental impact while enhancing the guest’s experience.

Materiality takes center stage, beginning with responsibly sourced finishes chosen for their durability, low emissions, and lifecycle transparency. We worked hand-in-hand with the client and MindClick to ensure the vendors and materials selected for this project were leaders in their industry for sustainable sourced materials, ethical business practices, and cradle-to-cradle considerations.

One sustainability highlight of the project was the faux leather used on the headboards and desk chairs. Since this material likely had the highest upholstery yardage in the project, we selected an Otratex from Fil Doux. Not only is Fil Doux recognized as a MindClick Innovator, but Otratex is the only 100% biodegradable vinyl in the industry.

The public areas presented an opportunity to use local vendors for much of the upholstery and all the millwork, including the feature wall behind the reception desk. These three vendors are in the greater Boston Metro area, which dramatically helped reduce emissions from shipping.

These three vendors are in the greater Boston Metro area, which dramatically helped reduce emissions from shipping. Together, these strategies reinforce the project’s mission to demonstrate how thoughtful design can meaningfully reduce environmental impact without compromising aesthetics, comfort, or functionality. By prioritizing transparent sourcing, local craftsmanship, and innovative material solutions, the project delivers a model for responsible hospitality design. The result is a space that is not only visually compelling, but one that actively supports long-term sustainability goals—proving that a hotel can be both environmentally conscious and deeply enriching for every guest who enters.