The St. Regis Aspen Resort in, Colorado, originally built as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, is a 260-room five-star luxury destination hotel located at the base of Aspen Mountain. Three buildings make up the hotel, which includes 25 suites, several restaurants and a world class spa. The hotel was constructed using traditional and innovative materials from around the world so it would resemble a luxurious European ski lodge. The interiors of the sumptuous guestrooms and the magnificent public areas were finished in rich detail with fine millwork, polished marble, granite and gleaming brass. The exterior, a triumph of American craftsmanship, includes color-coordinated facades of brick veneer, cast sandstone, copper flashing and a slate gabled roof. 

PCL completed this dramatic hotel despite obstacles seemingly impossible to overcome. Most notably was the importance of local input and acceptance. To gain compliance and support, the team actively recruited 80% of the labor force from the immediate and surrounding areas, thereby injecting the local area with an economic boost.

Another challenge the team faced was the lack of affordable employee housing in Aspen. To solve multiple facility needs, PCL rented an entire vacant hotel near the project site. This served as both construction headquarters and a home for workers throughout the duration of the project.   

Even though the project faced challenges, including financing issues, the PCL team ensured that the hotel was worth the wait – and the hotel’s sophisticated quality and elegance proves that it was. From a bare spot of land to a luxury hotel that seems to have been lifted straight out of history (with modern amenities), this building became and continues to be a vital part of Aspen’s landscape.