AC Hotel Nulu seeks to engage the community and offer a program to be the impetus for new growth and development.  The project includes a boutique hotel, parking for the overall district, art installations and a neighborhood community outreach center.  Since the onset of the project over 40 new establishments and developments have emerged sourcing the NULU project as the leader of community revitalization.  

The 156 room hotel with meeting and event spaces engages the streetscape with an open and transparent interaction, promoting activity and engagement of the community.  Throughout the hotel the guest experience is authentically Louisville and specifically reminded of the character of the NULU district as an art and metal fabrication community with a rich history.  The bar canopy, fabricated in collaboration with a local metal smith, demonstrates the capabilities of a craftsman who is a block away.  The courtyard space of the building also captures an opportunity for a localized art piece referencing the riverscape of the area and the metal and illumination creations of local community artists.  

The building also offers a community outreach center which is utilized as a neighborhood gathering spot for multifunctional services including, voting, language education, health programs, child and teen services and also as a pop up art installation gallery.

Challenged with the opportunity to develop the property on a site in the district that simply was not conducive to conventional construction, the architect proposed an option.  Innovate with modular construction without compromising the overall design approach and standards of the community.  The proposed innovations to the project were fully embraced by owner, contractor, design team and all of the city regulatory agencies.  Through this collaboration, the project pursued the approach of off site fabrication with guest room modules being fabricated completely in Pennsylvania and shipped to site at a pace of a floor a week.  Through the opportunity of modular fabrication so many difficult conditions were able to be overcome.  Speed to occupancy, precision in craftsmanship, no weather delays, no labor market challenges and an ability to limit the construction site area in size and disturbance.

This innovative approach has spawned a movement in the hospitality industry.  With this off site fabrication technique for challenged sites and dense urban conditions, the benefits have proven to be substantial.  As one of the first major modular construction hospitality projects, The NULU was noted as the building of the year for its innovation and community impact.  Marriott International also recognized the architect as their Global Architect of the Year in 2018.

The NULU project was able to achieve significant sustainability goals and is certified as a LEED Gold property. 

The overall project has served as the lead development to revitalize the community development with renewed density of neighborhood enhancing programs and establishments.  The community outreach center and all that it offers to the local residents has touched the lives of hundreds with thoughtful, community building services.