by Carrie Rossenfeld

BURBANK, CA-R.D. Olson Construction has broken ground on the $44-million SpringHill Suites by Marriott, a five-story, 170-room hotel here. The new hotel represents the continued revitalization of Downtown Burbank, with an interior design theme that pays homage to the area’s rich history in the entertainment industry.

Construction is slated for completion in Spring 2015. R.D. Olson will retain ownership of the hotel upon completion, with Marriott International providing management services. The all-suite hotel features Marriott’s latest Gen 4.5 design for SpringHill Suites, billed as “sleek and contemporary.” The 102,075-square-foot hotel is designed with a room mix that includes 88 king bed and 82 double-queen bed configurations.

Guestroom suites will offer dedicated workspaces with a full-sized desk, free Wi-Fi, separate seating area, kitchenettes with microwaves, mini-fridges and coffee service, and bathrooms equipped with separate showers and bathtubs. Public amenities in the hotel include a breakfast area, lounge, meeting facilities, a fitness center, business center, guest laundry and an onsite convenience market. Outdoor amenities include a landscaped outdoor space with a fire-pit and a pool and spa area.

“We saw this as an outstanding opportunity to energize this street-to-street block on San Fernando Blvd. and make a significant contribution to the growing economic base in Burbank,” says Bob Olson, CEO and founder of R.D. Olson. The hotel is expected to add approximately 50 full- and part-time employees and average $920,000 in transient occupancy tax annually over the next 10 years.

As GlobeSt.com reported in October 2013, R.D. Olson has begun construction on the Bicycle Casino’s new $45 million luxury hotel, the Bicycle Casino Hotel in Bell Gardens, CA. Construction is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2015.