R.D. Olson Construction has completed Element Mission Valley in San Diego, a $43-million, 98,000-sq.-ft. hotel developed in partnership with Driftwood Capital and the first Element by Westin Marriott in the region.
“Element Mission Valley is a product of close collaboration,” said Bill Wilhelm, president/CEO, R.D. Olson Construction. “We were able to build a thriving property and connect it to the Marriott Mission Valley to immerse guests in a holistic hospitality experience.”
The 150-key, seven-story property, which was developed in the former event facility adjacent to the Marriott, is located within minutes of Old Town, Balboa Park and Mission Bay, and links to the broader region via Interstate 8 and the MTS trolley Green Line.
To navigate the former event facility site, R.D. Olson built a 15-foot retaining wall to achieve a level grade while ensuring the adjoining MTS trolley walls remained intact. They maintained daily communication with the Marriott Mission Valley to allow the hotel to remain fully operational while the construction of the Element property was taking place.
The new hotel was built to offer a residential-style hospitality experience, with accommodations ranging from guestrooms, studios, one-bedroom suites and common suites—a room unique to the Element brand. These accommodations give families the option to rent a studio room with an attached 600-sq.-ft. living room and kitchen space, allowing up to three additional guestrooms to share the common living space.
Amenity spaces were designed to support wellness and flexibility. Its fitness center incorporates industrial tones to promote focus and energy. The 5,300-sq.-ft. ballroom was constructed to host workforce development and special events and contains 80 ft. of space opening directly to a shared 5,000-sq.-ft. outdoor courtyard breakout area that’s shared between both hotels. This allows the entire ballroom and courtyard space to be utilized for indoor/outdoor events. The lobby bar was constructed to enhance the guest experience through a full-service experience overlooking the patio—a custom feature not typically found in Element-branded properties.
R.D. Olson constructed Element Mission Valley to prioritize sustainability. The base of the structure comprises stories of concrete construction with five stories of wood frame above, helping the project achieve Title 24 building code through the use of sustainable materials.
Partners on the project include architect and landscape design firm AO; structural engineer Ficcadenti Waggoner and Castle; civil engineer Kimley-Horn; MEP engineer RTM Engineering; and interior design by Linda Snyder Associates.
