Located at the intersection of highways I-95 and I-91 in New Haven, Connecticut, Hotel Marcel is one of the most prominent works of modern architecture in the northeast United States. In addition to its significance as a notable example of brutalist architecture, this fully modernized LEED Platinum-certified property also excels in sustainability.
The all-electric hotel generates enough renewable energy to sustain its operations and is expected to become the first net-zero hotel in the U.S. in 2025. Hotel Marcel is committed to mitigating climate change with a focus on food and beverages, recyclable products, and environmental friendliness. In practice this means composting all food waste, sourcing locally, eliminating single-use plastics, and opting for eco-friendly products. But this is just one facet of Hotel Marcel’s quest to create new standards.
Bruce Becker, president of the architecture and development firm Becker + Becker, set his sights high on the adaptive reuse of the historically significant building.
“Our goal was to create a model for sustainability in the hospitality industry,” he says. “We knew we’d need to design something with minimum or neutral carbon impact, and we knew that modernizing would be more efficient than building a new structure.”
Sustainability pays off
The Bauhaus style building was originally designed by noted architects Marcel Breuer and Robert F. Gatje as an office and production facility for Armstrong Rubber Company.
Today, Hotel Marcel is listed on both the Connecticut state register and the national register of historic places. Redevelopment followed guidelines designed to protect the building’s historic integrity. These constraints posed unique challenges, yet provided ample opportunities for innovation in sustainability.
Electricity generated by more than 1,000 photovoltaic panels installed on carports and the expansive roof powers the hotel’s own microgrid. Smart technologies such as power-over-Ethernet lighting and a one-megawatt-hour battery storage solution ensure all hotel systems operate smoothly. Simply put, sustainability is an investment that pays off.
“It’s quite cost-effective to generate energy onsite,” Becker notes. “In designing this system, we were just trying to be responsible. But as it turns out, that’s also the most economic approach. Our energy bills are about a quarter of what they’d be at a typical hotel.”
Regenerative drive elevators generate electricity to save energy
Energy-efficient KONE MonoSpace 500 DX elevators, designed to use half the energy of hydraulic elevators, are a key component of the property’s commitment to sustainability. Installing this KONE solution also eliminated the need for an elevator machine room, effectively giving back the entire ninth floor to the owner, who has converted it into a premium-level event space.
Importantly, KONE regenerative drive elevators actually return energy to the building when braking, leading into smaller carbon footprint.
“That was a big selling point for us,” Becker says. “Other than solar panels, the elevators are the only element in the building that actively generate electricity. When you’re trying to get to net zero, any component that makes its own electricity is valuable. It’s a very clever solution.”
KONE’s regenerative elevators can recover up to 40% of an elevator system’s total energy consumption and they have also sparked interest within the wider hospitality sector. “People comment on that being one of the most energy-efficient features of the property,” Becker adds.
“Why would you want to waste energy when you can put it back in the building?”
Leading the way to a net zero future
In supporting Hotel Marcel’s sustainability goals, this unique KONE solution also aids the city of New Haven, which seeks to cut community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2030. This exemplifies KONE’s broader role and commitment as an industry leader in sustainability and innovation. The increasing adoption of regenerative drives will continue to support more sustainable urban living and contribute to the fight against climate change.
We help our customers make reductions in carbon emissions, assist them in decarbonizing, and provide clear information on the environmental impact of KONE elevators – this includes materials used, weight, biogenic carbon, and annual energy consumption.
“We need to keep making these types of transformational shifts in sustainability to lead the way to a net zero future,” says Corey Ward, senior vice president, safety, quality and environment, KONE Americas. “For me personally, it feels very powerful that KONE plays a major role in cutting carbon. We support smart urbanization through an innovative offering and materials that are of high quality, functional, and sustainable.”