La Federal Hotel

Memphis, TN

Despite years of neglect, 119 Madison still stands out among the historic structures of the Madison Avenue corridor. The cnct. design and development team was enlisted by the owner and the Downtown Memphis Commission to document the historic building and perform a feasibility study on its development into a boutique micro-hotel with ground floor and basement commercial spaces. Multiple proformas and plan studies were completed in order to pinpoint the most effective strategy, with critical attention paid to costs, preservation, and approvals necessary for each. The resulting design preserves most historic components of the building and utilizes code exceptions for historic buildings to restore this monument to its original glory.

Originally built in 1917, the structure has gone through numerous alterations in its time. A majority of the building was demolished in the late 1990’s to make room for a parking garage, leaving only the ornate street facing portion. In 2008, a renovation was started but quickly abandoned and left the building vacant until present day.

The existing exterior cladding will be repaired and repointed to restore it to its original condition. All existing windows will require new, energy-efficient glazing and the existing frames will be repaired and painted to match the originial finish. The Northwest column, which historically did not have the terracotta cladding, will have a black break metal profile installed to match the terracotta cladding profile above. Juliet balconies from the 2008 renovation will be removed and their openings infilled with brick to match the surrounding masonry. The original elevator penthouse will be heightened to accommodate for a new modern elevator. Signage and exterior lighting will be incorporated to accentuate the ornate façade.

Floor Plans

The proposal includes a basement speakeasy, ground floor café with additional mezzanine seating, three high-end guestrooms, and a rooftop deck. The basement has direct access to Nov. 6th St, allowing it to operate as an independent tenant space, and the inconspicuous entrance suites the speakeasy use well. The ground floor café with mezzanine seating will activate this currently vacant block and offer another amenity to hotel guests and the general public. An expansive storefront and double-height volume of the café will invite people in to experience this unique treasure.