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§ 02 — Case Study Downtown Boise, Idaho 2017 — Hospitality Rooftop
STAND-IN BRANDON TO VET — Residence Inn rooftop bar deck overview (4K master)
High-end urban hospitality in the heart of Boise

Residence
Inn Boise

Downtown Boise, Idaho

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Rooftop [VERIFY]
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Year Completed
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Story Vantage
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First-of-Its-Kind in Boise
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Chapter One

The Brief

STAND-IN BRANDON TO VET — Residence Inn deck with downtown Boise skyline context

Residence Inn was completed in 2017 — the year Boise held the title of fastest-growing city in the U.S. The city’s tech scene and substantial migration from larger coastal cities had triggered a sizable population jump. Hotel occupancy was over 80%, room rates were rising, and downtown was due for new product.

Despite coming to market within a few months of three other downtown hotels, Residence Inn sold out its first weekend open. The promising circumstances made for an excellent opportunity to pioneer the rooftop as a new amenity for the Boise hotel scene.

Loft Six Four was commissioned to craft something memorable for guests — and to bring something new and different to the capital city. The rooftop didn’t exist as a Boise convention yet. We were going to make one.

What we designed turned out to be too special to keep guests-only.

What Sets It Apart

Standout Features

Indoor / outdoor pool connection
From the start, the rooftop was integral to the building. Indoor pool spaces connect with the outdoor deck so each enhances the other.
Distinct activity pockets
The building program shaped a deck geometry with dedicated zones — bar, lounge, dining, pool — that fit together for variety without crowding.
Outdoor bar + event terrace
Once Marriott opened the deck to the public, the geometry served weekly live music, weddings, and special events without redesign.
Shade structures + tiled seat walls
Hardscape and shade detailed to bring texture and reinforce hotel brand — every surface chosen for the memorable experience.
Two illumination modes
Soft ambient lighting for guest hours; brighter accent lighting for event nights — one space, two operating modes.
Mountain-native planting
A planting palette pulled from the Boise River corridor — sage, feather reed grass, and friends — so the rooftop feels rooted in place.
STAND-IN BRANDON TO VET — Residence Inn outdoor bar in service

Project Film

Hospitality above the city.

For Residence Inn, the rooftop was not a bonus space. It became the signature guest experience, with Boise views doing the work before anyone reaches the bar.

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Chapter Two

Our Approach

Boise didn’t have a rooftop hospitality precedent yet. Design and approvals were uncharted. We collaborated with The Richardson Design Partnership and Marriott to align brand operations with the kind of distinct local identity downtown wanted.

The rooftop was focused on creating a wide range of spaces that fit together for different experiences. Plants and hardscape were selected to bring interest and texture while reinforcing the hotel brand. From shade structures to tiled seat walls, each detail was planned to be memorable on its own.

Once the hotel opened the space to the public, the organization of the deck lent itself perfectly to the new programming as a restaurant + bar. Hotel guests now mingle with locals as both take in downtown views with their drinks. The versatility is a large contributor to the value.

STAND-IN — BRANDON TO VET. Pick: tiled seat-wall + shade structure detail.
STAND-IN BRANDON TO VET — Residence Inn tile seat-wall material detail (4K tall master)
STAND-IN — BRANDON TO VET. Pick: native planting layered against urban backdrop.

Boise has become the place for millennials leaving the coast for a better lifestyle. The rooftop bar at Residence Inn became the place for both visitors and locals to kick back, relax, and enjoy the best of what Boise has to offer.

Truly, the outdoor amenities are what set this hotel apart from the rest — helping it become a mainstay.

STAND-IN — BRANDON TO VET. Pick: second cinematic moment for Residence Inn Boise — recommend the outdoor-bar-detail at night for an event-mode read.
Picture This

What if your hotel rooftop
changed how the city feels?

Residence Inn Boise didn’t just elevate a hotel. It became part of how the city introduces itself. Your project could too — if the brief stops at “guest amenity” and starts at “city moment.”

Imagine This for Your Project →

There’s nothing like this in Boise

Aimee Tylor General Manager, Residence Inn

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Chapter Three

Results

First
Public Hospitality Rooftop in Boise
A guest-only patio that became too special to keep private — opened to the public after attention from locals (including Boise’s mayor).

The roof deck at Residence Inn in downtown Boise became a game changer for the city. Originally planned as a guests-only hangout spot, the third-story patio became a major public attraction.

After receiving a lot of attention from locals, the Marriott decided it was worth taking full advantage of their special roof deck by opening it to the public. It’s now the location of an outdoor bar with weekly live music, weddings, and other special events — a key feature within Boise’s growing downtown.

[VERIFY block — vault-only metrics that need confirmation before publish: 95% occupancy for six months post-opening; F&B revenue up 60% over forecast; rooftop booked every weekend; 65% of users are locals; cited as precedent in four subsequent planning submissions; sparked the “Look Up Boise” tourism campaign.]

Great design doesn’t just elevate a hotel. It elevates a city.

2017
Year Completed
5.7K
Sq Ft Rooftop [VERIFY]
3
Story Vantage
1st
Public Hospitality Rooftop in Boise
Project Details Residence Inn Boise
Typology
Hospitality rooftop amenity
Owner / Developer
Pennbridge Lodging
Brand
Residence Inn (Marriott)
Architect
The Richardson Design Partnership
Completion
2017
Rooftop
5,700 sq. ft. [VERIFY]
STAND-IN — BRANDON TO VET. Pick: 4th West rooftop hero.
Back to the Top
Upscale urban reset
4th West Apartments
A 26,000 sq ft rooftop. A $160M sale. The lifestyle deck that redefined the West Side.

“It’s proof that great design doesn’t just elevate a hotel — it elevates a city.”

Brandon Reed — Loft Six Four

Your project deserves
this level of thinking.

Whether you’re a developer, architect, or builder — if your outdoor space needs to define the project, we should talk.