Nestled in a vibrant community, the newly constructed Ada Hotel celebrates its history, rising from the ashes of the original structure lost to fire in 1942 and has been missing ever since. Designed as a welcoming destination for visitors and locals alike, the hotel honors its past while offering a forward-thinking hospitality experience. A carefully integrated lighting approach blends natural and electric illumination, enhancing every aspect of the curated design. Thoughtfully layered daylight along with artificial light, managed through a precise control system, creates a dynamic balance throughout the hotel.

Situated along the Ada River, the three-story hotel features a central atrium and adjacent gathering spaces. The atrium’s topographical ceiling reflects the tranquil riverside landscape, forming a vibrant communal hub. Due to shallow ceiling constraints, low-profile LED tape lights with grazing optics highlight the ceiling’s contours yet are powerful enough to light the beautiful lobby below and eliminate the need for downlights. Additional accent fixtures, carefully detailed into millwork coves and paired with flexible track lighting, bring both sparkle and functional illumination to the second-floor event space. Within the restaurants and guest rooms, vintage-inspired luminaires reinforce the hotel’s narrative and design aesthetic, complementing historic photographs and textured finishes.

The lighting control system orchestrates seamless transitions from sunlit mornings to moody, elegant evenings, managed through continuous timeclock controls. Integrated daylight

and occupancy sensors reduce energy consumption and streamline operations, ensuring a consistent lighting experience with minimal staff intervention. Careful collaboration

between architects and contractors allowed for an integrated lighting approach despite tight ceiling conditions and complex design elements. The result is a refined balance between

past and present—where historic references and organic materials with warm undertones merge with modern fixtures and controls, crafting a timeless and inviting atmosphere.

Photo Credits: Dan Ham