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1 Hotel Seattle Gets Construction Started

Where: Second Ave and Pine [map], Seattle, WA, United States

Barry Sternlicht's 1 Hotel & Residences in Seattle has just broken ground, according to a company press release. The first in what is expected to be a luxury but eco-friendly hotel chain will open up at Second Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle in 2009.

The 23-story building will feature 110 City Suites along with 98 condominium units, set to go on sale to the public in September. There will also be a 40,000 square foot athletic club, an 8,000 square foot spa, and an organic grocery store like a Wild Oats or Whole Foods. (Neither of those chains are confirmed but we're just throwing out examples in case you still shop at Pathmark.)

Speaking of organic, the hotel is aiming to be the "world's first five-star, eco-friendly global hotel brand" (uh-oh, global?) and so they have brought on the National Resources and Defense Council to serve as the environmental adviser on each 1 Hotel they build, including the Seattle property. The Seattle hotel will also seek a LEED certification which gives approval to truly green buildings throughout the building process--from design to construction to operation.

That's a lot to own up to right away and construction just started so we'll be watching this hotel chain's green promises very closely. In the meantime, we'll be poring over the plethora of design renderings on the hotel's website.

Related Stories:
· 1 Hotel & Residences Breaks Ground [PR Newswire]
· '1' Joins the Ranks of Oddly-Named New Hotel Chains [HotelChatter]