The Gaslamp Quarter is on of San Diego's main entertainment and tourist attractions. It was settled in the 1860s, as a way to connect the city to the marina. Unfortunately, many of the 94 historic buildings became mired in urban decay. Around the 1990s this began to change with the legendary revitalization that also spread to nearby sections of downtown San Diego, including the up and coming East Village, with its startling Hotel Indigo.
Joseph Wong Design Associates (JWDA) designed this steel and glass hotel to appeal to travelers tired of bland “beige box” hotels. JWDA were faced with another design problem: how to integrate the hotel into urban fabric but maintain the outdoor aesthetic of San Diego. One solution was the installation of operable glass wall systems in two different locations.