Avon, Colorado: In September of 2008, San Francisco-based architecture and planning firm Hornberger + Worstell will celebrate the opening of its design of The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Vail Valley’s newest luxury hotel.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is located at the threshold of the new Riverfront Express Gondola and pedestrian path that unites town, river, and mountain. To offer guests a direct connection to chairlifts at Beaver Creek Resort, The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa built the new Riverfront Express Gondola. Other transportation improvements include the creation of village streets and a connection to the county wide biking trail system.

The 19 acre resort will appeal to vacationers, business travelers, and residents alike with 210 residences ranging from studios to 3 bedrooms, 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a new Westin Restaurant and Market created by noted chef Thomas Salamunovich of the Larkspur Restaurant in Vail, as well as 107 Starwood Vacation Ownership time-shares.

The Resort’s 23,000 square foot Spa Anjali will emulate the experience of the region’s natural landscape through the use of local materials such as river rock and aspen wood, as well as through the incorporation of broad picture windows that overlook the river and mountains beyond. Features include 14 treatment rooms, a salon, a fitness center with all of the latest equipment, as well as 3 zero-edge, outdoor spas that will make guests feel as though they are floating above the river.

The architecture of The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa responds to the context and ambiance of both the existing town of Avon and the adjacent resort of Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek architecture makes use of traditional American alpine building materials and resort village design, while Avon has a much more contemporary, urban feel. The architecture of the Westin therefore belongs to, and mediates, these contrasting settings.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is anticipated to be the first hotel in the state of Colorado to achieve LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainable features include recycled building materials as well as wide expanses of glass that both provide spectacular views and reduce the need for artificial lighting. Guests will also be encouraged to partake in the site’s sustainability with recycling stations located on every floor of the resort and preferred parking for hybrid vehicles.

The opening of the The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa represents a major milestone that will invigorate Avon’s sense of place. Hornberger + Worstell is honored to have contributed to this project through the combined efforts of East West Partners, Westin Hotels and Resorts, SOM, and Terrasan.