Jade Waters at the Hilton Anatole

Since 1983 the Hilton Anatole Hotel has been one of the largest hotels in the American south. With over 1,600 rooms and a myriad of convention-based gathering spaces, it has nonetheless been one of Dallas’ most prized destinations. In 2014 the Hilton Anatole embarked on a $25 million endeavor to transform the existing 4 acre courtyard into a water park amenity for hotel guests and a summer-time revenue generator as the hotel reaches out to engage a more family-oriented market. GFF provided design services for four unique – yet consistent – structures: a 15,000 SF multiuse walk-up bar and grill structure, coupled with restrooms and lockers; a 400 SF entry pavilion for guest check-in; a 2,000 SF cabana structure for guest rental, and a 700 SF swim up bar as part of an adult oriented leisure pool.
The Hilton Anatole Jade Waters Resort design pulls from eastern Asian concepts extant in the hotel’s broad collection of Asian art. Envisioned as a landscape project first, the architecture is envisioned as a minimal exercise in background building, offering a series of small pavilions as shelters from the Texas heat. By remaining as minimal and delicate as possible, the pools, landscape, and the 35 unique art pieces from the Crow Collection are more politely celebrated.