R.D. Olson Development Breaks Ground on $44 Million SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Downtown Burbank, Calif

BURBANK, CA and IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 11, 2014) - R.D. Olson Development has broken ground on the five-story,170-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel in Burbank, Calif. Executives from R.D. Olson Development and Marriott International were joined by City of Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy and civic leaders at the ceremonial groundbreaking. The new hotel represents the continued revitalization of Downtown Burbank, with an interior design theme that pays homage to the area's rich history in the entertainment industry.

Construction will be performed by R.D. Olson Construction and is planned for completion in spring 2015. R.D. Olson Development will retain ownership of the hotel upon completion, with Marriott International providing management services.

The $44 million, all-suite hotel features Marriott's latest Gen 4.5 design for SpringHill Suites and will meet the needs of weekday business travelers and weekend leisure guests in a sleek, contemporary setting. The 102,075-square-foot hotel is designed with a room mix that includes 88 king bed and 82 double queen bed configurations.

Guestroom suites offer dedicated work spaces with a full-sized desk, free Wi-Fi, separate seating area, kitchenettes with microwaves, mini-fridges and coffee service, and bathrooms equipped with separate showers and bathtubs. Public amenities in the hotel include a breakfast area, lounge, meeting facilities, a fitness center, business center, guest laundry and an onsite convenience market. Outdoor amenities include a beautifully landscaped outdoor space with a fire pit and an inviting pool and spa area.

"Marriott does an excellent job at anticipating guest needs and continually reengineering the lodging experience for business and leisure travelers," said Bob Olson, CEO and founder of R.D. Olson Development.

The project marks R.D. Olson's second Marriott brand development in Burbank. The firm also developed the 166-room Residence Inn by Marriott Burbank in 2007, and has drawn upon its experience in the Burbank market for this latest project.

"We saw this as an outstanding opportunity to energize this street-to-street block on San Fernando Boulevard and make a significant contribution to the growing economic base in Burbank," added Olson.

The hotel is expected to add approximately 50 full- and part-time employees and average $920,000 in transient occupancy tax annually over the next ten years.

"Thriving downtowns are at the heart of successful cities like Burbank," said Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy. "SpringHill Suites will add to the continuing vibrancy of South San Fernando Boulevard, placing guests just a few strides from our wonderful downtown. This property will offer tourists yet another outstanding option, in addition to providing jobs and tax revenue to our residents," added Gabel-Luddy.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Burbank is located on the south side of San Fernando Boulevard between Providencia and Santa Anita Streets. The location is close to the Burbank Town Center and is easily reached via the Golden State (I-5) Freeway at E. Alameda Avenue. Burbank's Bob Hope Airport is a short, four-mile drive away.

As is customary for all R.D. Olson Development hotels, the SpringHill Suites Burbank features an interior design theme that pays tribute to the local area. In this case, the interior highlights the entertainment and media industries that are the heart of Burbank.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Burbank was designed by San Diego-based Awbrey Cook McGill Architects, a firm that has excelled at designing both Marriott and luxury boutique hotels. "We collaborated with Bob Olson and his team on a creative vision for this hotel that will offer a lodging experience that is well-suited for the Burbank market," said owner Scott McGill of Awbrey Cook McGill.

R.D. Olson Development began developing hotels in 1997 and has been particularly active over the last two years, having completed the development of six hotels over that period. The company has completed Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Oceanside and Goleta, Calif. and Maui, Hawaii, the Residence Inn by Marriott in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and most recently finished the Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in Tustin, Calif. R.D. Olson developed these projects with architects Gene Fong Associates, Johnson Braund Design Group and Awbrey Cook McGill Architects, and interior designers Kling/Blarta Design and Johnson Braund Design Group.

The firm also has an eight-story Courtyard by Marriott currently in construction in the Irvine Spectrum, designed by international architecture firm WATG. SpringHill Suites Burbank marks R.D. Olson's eighth development since 2011, and the firm plans to announce several new development projects in 2014.

About R.D. Olson Development
Based in Irvine, Calif., R.D. Olson Development is engaged in the development and repositioning of commercial properties nationwide. A specialist in developing hospitality properties, the firm also develops office, retail, multifamily and recreational projects. Robert Olson founded R.D. Olson Development in 1997 following nearly 20 years as founder and CEO of R.D. Olson Construction. The firm's portfolio of developments may be viewed at www.rdodevelopment.com.

About R.D. Olson Construction
Founded by Bob Olson in 1979, R.D. Olson Construction is one of the top 50 general contracting firms in California. R.D. Olson Construction is a premier builder of hotel properties for several national hoteliers, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, and Starwood. The firm most recently completed construction on the LEGOLAND® hotel in Carlsbad, Calif., the first of its kind in North America. R.D. Olson Construction is also an experienced builder of office, retail, restaurant, multifamily and recreational projects. www.rdolson.com