FORRESTPERKINS-designed Restrooms Named Among Top 10 Restrooms in the Country

Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel Restrooms are Contenders for the 2011 America’s Best Restroom Award

Photography by Kenneth M. Wyner

Washington, DC (August 2, 2011) ForrestPerkins-has been honored with many awards in the past, but learning yesterday that its public restrooms for the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia have been named among the Top 10 finalists in the 2011 America’s Best Restroom Contest was a delight for the luxury design firm. It’s a challenge to integrate originality into a public restroom, so ForrestPerkins is pleased with the recognition. Mentions on USAToday.com, http://usat.ly/pirUOU, NPR radio and several television news shows over the last 24 hours have caught us by surprise. But apparently visitors like the sense of adventure they have traveling down the somewhat darkened corridor that leads from the lobby and restaurant to the restrooms and the surprise that awaits them.  

Inspired by the fact that the hotel is located in Potomac Yard, once one of the busiest rail yards on the East Coast and now at the nexus of Metro, Reagan National Airport, the Potomac River and Highway Rt. 1, the exciting design consistently reflects the evidence of motion throughout the hotel, even in the restrooms. The hall leading to the lavatories features tree-patterned wall coverings and a play of shadow and light with leaf patterns on the floor. Open the door et voila - a blaze of golden and orange sunset tones and a flock of birds in flight greets you on one wall. Sparkling water flows blue from the faucet if it’s cold, red if it’s hot and purple if it’s warm. Mirrors are lit with the silhouettes of more birds in flight and quill-shaped pendants crown the vanity.

Online voting now through September 19^th will determine the winner of the 2011 America’s Best Restroom Contest, sponsored by Cintas. To view the finalist gallery and to vote, click here:  http://www.bestrestroom.com/us/vote.asp