The New Marriott Autograph Hotel – The Asher Adams

Marriott

This hotel– Asher Adams– was named after the first cartographers to depict railroad lines on their maps. It is the new luxury hotel, transforming the historic 1908 Union Pacific railroad passenger station into a 225-room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel.

Located in The Gateway, a large, open-air retail, residential, and office complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, it is centered on the historic Union Pacific Depot now transformed into the new hotel Marriott Asher Adams on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City. Asher Adams is just steps from the TRAX Light Rail and the Delta Center, the place where the Utah Jazz Basketball Team plays, and with quick access to Temple Square, the SLC International Airport, and surrounding amenities.

Paying homage to the building’s history, Marriott transformed the former Union Pacific Depot into a fresh new space, serving as the first luxury lifestyle hotel of its kind in Salt Lake City. The hotel will feature three bars and signature restaurant, Rouser, which will be host to an upscale menu cooked with charcoal grilling techniques, paying tribute to the coal-powered train engines.

THKS Architects and JNS Design further repurposed the historic boundaries of the old train station with a preservation-driven design. They preserved the train station’s French empire architecture as it brings the new hotel space into the 21st Century. The sandstone building was originally architected in the French Second Empire style and included a terrazzo floor and stained-glass windows. What remains, among other architectural details, are two upper wall murals —one called Driving The Golden Spike by San Francisco artist John MacQuarrie in 1909, depicting the driving of the Golden Spike north of Salt Lake City at Promontory Summit, signifying the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869. The other mural on the opposite side of the building is called Emigrants Entering Salt Lake Valley, by John MacQuarrie & August C. Wocker, completed in 1909. It shows the 1847 arrival of Mormon pioneers, traveling through Emigrant Canyon into what is now Salt Lake City. Both can be seen in the Asher Adam’s Grand Hall.

The Asher Adam’s commitment to preserve architectural heritage while embracing the highest level of modern hospitality can also be felt from the original stained-glass windows to the grand lobby. Inspired by the connecting railways through Utah that brought a new cultural identity to the region, the property will continue by also being home to an array of contemporary artists, and further interior design details that add Salt Lake history to this contemporary building, which was once The Union Depot, or Union Pacific Depot building as it became known in 1921. It functioned as a railroad station well into the 1970s and for a short time was an Amtrak station as well. But now, it has been redesigned into a Marriott Autograph hotel, combining an historic past with a lively present.

Also, Asher Adams’ culinary concepts bring new offerings to Salt Lake City. From the dishes to the décor, the building’s history will be apparent throughout the dining experience. Inspired by the coal-fueled train engines, the grill, oven, and rotisserie will be charcoal-inspired, to impart historic flavor throughout. As further homage to train dining, the property’s culinary concepts are all designed to emulate the function of the dining car. Rouser is the signature restaurant, as mentioned above, is the fine-dining restaurant, and a homage to the dining car where train guests gather for an upscale meal. Counterpart is another dining experience, emulating the club car, designed for a quick meal or coffee. Finally, the bar car— focuses on the three on-property bars including Bar at Asher Adams & No.119. Whether guests are looking for a whiskey tasting or a charcoal-grilled seafood meal, the property’s culinary offerings will allow the past to inform the present in terms of culinary experience.

Finally, the location of Asher Adams is also important, as it appears to be close to many entertainment venues. Situated across from The Delta Center, guests at Asher Adams will have access to entertainment from Utah Jazz games to Park City – forty minutes away– with the many Sundance Film Festival theaters. The guests will also be near the City Creek Center, and shopping at luxury stores from Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton to Tiffany & Co to Swarovski.

As the Peter Allen song goes, “Everything Old Is New Again.” It is certainly well-defined by this past informing the present Marriott Hotel space.