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Granite State’s First AC Branded Hotel on Target for a Summer Completion

January 21, 2019


Portsmouth, NH - The AC Hotel by Marriott is on target for a late summer completion as PROCON crews finish up the exterior installations. The upscale hotel with an event center and a rooftop bar is located at 299 Vaughan Street in Portsmouth adjacent to the 3S Artspace in the city’s North End. The 5-story structure will be the first AC branded hotel in New Hampshire. PROCON is the designer and construction manager on the project, which is a developer collaboration between XSS Hotels of Manchester, NH and Cathartes of Boston MA.

The 154-key hotel design features deluxe double-queen and king guestrooms. Each room will include the AC’s signature wall-mounted workspace and seating bench. A European décor will be reflected throughout in stylish finishes designed to appeal to tourists, business travelers and millennials. Guest amenities will include a fitness center with a dedicated yoga room, a rooftop lounge/bar and deck, a library, a 24/7 market, complimentary WiFi, and a 24-hour business center. An additional 2,360 SF of first-floor leasable office and retail space will also be available upon completion.

In addition, the AC Hotel will feature a third floor 4,500 SF event space and deck for weddings, special occasions, training seminars and more. The larger room will sub-divide into smaller meeting rooms for corporate meetings or intimate social functions. On the first floor, two media salons will provide collaborative technology and a 1,500 SF sub-dividable conference area. Guests will also be able to enjoy social gatherings and mixers at the hotel’s rooftop bar and event space offering views of North Mill Pond and the Piscataqua River. Current work includes the roof installment, the weather-tight barrier and windows to be followed by interior installations.

Correspondingly, a key part of the approvals between Portsmouth and the project developers was a nearly one-acre water-front park area which the developers deeded to the city. In effect, the water-front park and greenway reconnects the North Mill Pond to the North End. Cathartes Principal Jeff Johnston explained, “It offers a wonderful environment to the public for recreation along its pathways, boat launch and scenic vistas. It’s a unique opportunity for the city.”

This project is not the first time that XSS Hotels, Cathartes and PROCON have worked together in Portsmouth. Previously, they joined forces on the nearly 400,000 SF Portwalk Place mixed-used development occupying a city block in downtown Portsmouth. Portwalk Place was one of the first live/work/play developments in New Hampshire and was a strategic part of revitalizing the city’s North End.

The AC Hotel is European-inspired, made its U.S. debut in 2014, and currently has 73 opened nationally with another 110 in their pipeline. So far, XSS Hotels’ Principals Leo Xarras and Mark Stebbins have collaborated on five previous AC Hotels’ in the Greater Boston area, notably Cambridge, MA, Boston/Medford,  Boston’s Cleveland Circle, Boston South End (Ink Block), and the AC Hotel Worcester.

XSS Hotels’ Partner and PROCON Owner Mark Stebbins stated, “The AC brand is an exciting segment of Marriott International’s market - known for its beautiful design and a catered guest experience. We believe that this hotel will make a great addition to the city of Portsmouth.”

 
Posted in the category News.