{"id":281671,"date":"2025-11-09T17:36:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T17:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/281671\/"},"modified":"2025-11-09T17:36:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T17:36:14","slug":"columbia-gorge-design-trail-these-are-the-hotels-design-minded-architects-visit-in-hood-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/281671\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia Gorge Design Trail: These are the hotels design-minded architects visit in Hood River"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Architectural Foundation of Oregon<\/a> was founded almost 45 years ago to educate, engage and inspire everyone, from schoolchildren to design enthusiasts of all ages, about the benefits of well-planned, inviting spaces. <\/p>\n

Past fundraising events for the nonprofit organization have included Dine & Design dinners<\/a> in architecturally significant homes in the Portland area. <\/p>\n

This year, the foundation introduced a two-day experience called The Design Trail<\/a>, for people to tour revitalized historic buildings across the state. <\/p>\n

The first Design Trail takes place Nov. 14-15 at the Columbia River Gorge, where participants will see welcoming renovated hotels and meet design leaders such as Portland-based architects Jeff Kovel<\/a> of Skylab and Ben Waechter of Waechter Architecture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Erica Rife, foundation executive director, said the architectural organization aims to make this an annual, statewide program. <\/p>\n

The event benefits the foundation\u2019s Architects in Schools<\/a> program, which encourages more than 5,000 Oregon elementary students a year to think about structures, old and new, and the environments they create.<\/p>\n

Although the first event is sold out, the destinations on the itinerary can be visited anytime by people in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The sites, selected by the architecture organization because of the structures\u2019 design integrity, are on both the Oregon and Washington side of the Columbia River.<\/p>\n

The Society Hotel Bingen<\/a>, a nearly 3-acre property at 210 N. Cedar St.<\/a> in Bingen, Washington, recently renovated the 1937 Bingen schoolhouse<\/a> to create private suites, hostel-style bunks, a cafe and lounge<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The school and separate gymnasium, now used as meeting spaces, were built during the Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The property also includes new cabins<\/a> arranged in a circle around the day spa. <\/p>\n

Hood River historic buildings participating in the Architectural Foundation of Oregon\u2018s program include:<\/p>\n

The 1924 Butler Bank Building<\/a> at 301 Oak St.<\/a>, which was designed in an Egyptian Revival style with a winged cornice by A.E. Doyle<\/a>, one of the Pacific Northwest\u2019s most celebrated early 20th century architects.The Union Building Lofts<\/a> at 310 Columbia St<\/a>. is an early 1900s rail shipment facility for the fruit industry that was unused for more than a half century. In 2018, six residential lofts<\/a> were constructed and sold in a portion of the building. In 2024, the Union Building Lofts<\/a> opened with office spaces and short-term studio rentals<\/a>.Lightwell Hotel & Spa<\/a> at 201 Cascade Ave.<\/a> has 69 modern guest rooms and a rooftop bar in the long-abandoned\u202c\u202d 1904 Waucoma\u202c\u202d Hotel<\/a>\u202c\u202d. The newly opened hotel was remade for travelers and residents by locals who are world-traveling\u202c\u202d outdoor\u202c\u202d sportsmen.<\/p>\n

\u201cLightwell Hotel is our preferred accommodations and where we will start the program with a private tour and lunch,\u201d said Rife.<\/p>\n

Updating a historic hotel\"Historic\"Historic<\/p>\n

1\/25<\/p>\n

1904 Waucoma\u202c\u202d Hotel\u202c\u202d<\/p>\n

The Lightwell Hotel & Spa takes its name from an improvement made more than a century ago. <\/p>\n

The Waucoma\u202c\u202d Hotel was designed by architect C.J. Crandall<\/a> and built in 1904 along the waterfront.<\/p>\n

By 1909, new owners renamed the brick building the Hotel Oregon and added a wing to the building. A central light well was created between the two sides to bring fresh air and natural light into the building.<\/p>\n

The historic light well is now a central feature of the four-story Lightwell Hotel & Spa, which is managed by VIP Hospitality Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The building had been vacant since 1973.<\/p>\n

\u201cRestoring\u202c\u202d this\u202c\u202d historic\u202c\u202d building\u202c\u202d wasn\u2019t\u202c\u202d just\u202c\u202d about\u202c\u202d saving\u202c\u202d bricks\u202c\u202d and\u202c\u202d beams;\u202c\u202d it\u202c\u202d was\u202c\u202d about\u202c\u202d giving\u202c the\u202c\u202d community\u202c\u202d back\u202c\u202d a\u202c\u202d cornerstone\u202c\u202d of\u202c\u202d our\u202c\u202d downtown,\u201d said Lach\u202c\u202d Litwer\u202c\u202d of\u202c\u202d Columbia\u202c\u202d Gorge\u202c Capital in a news release. He is one of Lightwell\u2019s founders with Cal\u202c\u202d Blake.<\/p>\n

The hotel\u2019s design and three years of restoration and construction were led by GB\u202c\u202d Pacific\u202c Construction\u2019s Ceb Barrs and Gabe Genauer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The building was reinforced with structural and seismic upgrades, and key original architectural details were restored and refinished.<\/p>\n

\u201cLightwell Hotel & Spa brings new life to one of Hood River\u2019s oldest landmarks reimagined for modern travelers,\u201d Genauer told The Oregonian\/OregonLive.<\/p>\n

The property offers plenty of ways to unwind, said Genauer, president of Groundswell Development and a developer\u202c\u202d of\u202c\u202d the\u202c\u202d Society\u202c\u202d Hotels in Old Town Portland<\/a> and Bingen.<\/p>\n

The lobby has a large\u202c\u202d fireplace and\u202c\u202d a\u202c\u202d baby\u202c\u202d grand\u202c\u202d piano\u202c\u202d formerly owned by Hood River\u2019s first female\u202c\u202d hotelier,\u202c\u202d Ola\u202c\u202d Bell, according to the History\u202c\u202d Museum\u202c\u202d of\u202c\u202d Hood\u202c\u202d River\u202c\u202d County<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Original\u202c\u202d oak\u202c\u202d wood\u202c\u202d floors were repurposed as decorative wall panels in Viento<\/a>, the hotel\u2019s Pacific\u202c\u202d Northwest-style Mediterranean\u202c\u202d restaurant.<\/p>\n

The rooftop bar, with a wooden trellis modeled after the original one, features year-round fireside seating and views of the Columbia River Gorge.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the rooftop bar to the subterranean spa and locally inspired dining, every corner reflects the spirit of the gorge: adventurous, creative and connected to community,\u201d said Genauer. <\/p>\n

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement<\/a> and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n