June 7, 2011

IRVINE, Calif. — R.D. Olson completed a major renovation of the Courtyard by Marriott LAX in record time; all the while the hotel remained open for business. The hotel, located at 6161 W. Century Blvd near Los Angeles International Airport, was originally built in the 1980s. Construction to transform the hotel into the new Courtyard by Marriott concept was started in February, built in three phases, and officially completed in time for the summer crowd.

The renovation was extensive. The R.D. Olson team reinvented the hotel’s lobby and reception area, and built a new bar, business center, theater room, car rental desk, market and outdoor patio. Although crews worked 16 to 18 hour days, the construction was kept nearly seamless to hotel guests.

“We scheduled the construction in a way that hotel guests were not bothered,” said Robert Olson, CEO/president, R.D. Olson Construction. “Our goal was to get the job done as efficiently and quickly as possible.”

The lobby, which was a major undertaking, included replacing the floor with white porcelain tile that resembles marble, enhanced by contrasting dark tile with a wood-like appearance. The dark tiles were strategically placed in specified areas including the bar, market and reception area. Throughout the lobby, R.D. Olson built six individual work areas fitted with television monitors and desks with seating for four. While the upgrade is along the lines of many Courtyard by Marriott hotels, what differentiates this facility from its sisters is the plentiful use of Italian-imported wood veneer wenge millwork.

Additionally, the new lobby now sports an inviting S-Bar for guests to get their morning coffee and a bite to eat. It adjoins a behind-the-scenes kitchen, which was entirely rebuilt and fitted with stainless steel appliances and an operable grease ovens that stretch to the roof.

Offshoots of the lobby include a business area with one large conference table, market filled with travelers’ essentials, and theater center fitted with couches and a large-screen television.

R.D. Olson Construction, based in Irvine, Calif., was founded in 1979. It has grown into one of the top 50 general contracting firms in California, building such establishments as the 174-room Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo; AVIA Hotel Long Beach; Marriott Newport Coast Villas, Newport Beach; Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Resort, Ojai; and four Marriott Residence Inns in Long Beach, Burbank, Oceanside and Irvine. Renovations include the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles; Ritz Carlton Spa, Marina del Rey; and Four Seasons Los Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. The company’s most recent completions include renovating the 19-story Hotel Palomar, Westwood; Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove: and Pavilion Hotel, Catalina Island. Additionally, the company has completed more than 300 major brand restaurants nationwide. Projects in the works include construction of yet another Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Maui, Hawaii, which the company broke ground on in May 2011.

Contact:
Krista Sparks | Randy Hall
714-263-8731 | 714-263-8723
krista@ideahall.com
randy@ideahall.com