The Squaw Valley Lodge Master Plan contemporizes the existing community center facilities into a 21st century mountain modern lodge. The aim was to create a space that was comfortable with an edge, with a sophistication to match other top resorts while keeping the sense of location. This objective was accomplished by changing the color scheme to a bright with high-contrast palette that is still warm and inviting, careful space planning, paying close attention to scale and updating the various layers of lighting to better illuminate the space. Specifying the use of high-performance materials as our choice for flooring, textiles, wall coverings and finishes that, though commercial-grade provide the ambiance of a residential home, achieved the goal of retaining the mountain feel of the lodge. Removing a central staircase near the entrance allowed for a more open and welcoming space plan and room for the new coffee/wine bar. The more dramatic entry, lobby, and reception areas feature elements that reflect the natural environment surrounding the lodge and reference the historic valley it sits in.

The reception area creates a grand entrance and a sense of arrival, and there is an increase in transparency between the interior lobby and porte cochere after eliminating the original large staircase that was situated in the middle of the lobby to promote the connectivity between spaces. Various furniture groupings were created to expand the usage of the common areas and provide guests with ample space to gather. Exploration was encouraged through wayfinding flooring material layouts. The unique entrance vinyl floor tile looks like wood, and the flooring pattern splits and steers you in both directions, to reception or into the grand lobby. The design itself is unique in the mix of materials, where the high contrast and play with scale are everywhere. We drew inspiration from nature - rocks, mountains, trees, textures, minerals and metallics - selecting an eclectic collection of natural components that includes wood wall cladding layered with a glass art installation, live-edge walnut slab accents and wall art, wood and branch motif wall coverings that go from abstraction to realism and Birch space dividers. A nod to the historic valley where the property is located is apparent at the entrance, with light fixtures that resemble Olympic rings and torches. The design on the table is a topographic map of Olympic Valley.

A new coffee and wine bar was added to the floor plan, and in continuing our color concept, we selected high contrast black, beige and white - black Belgium concrete waterfall countertops and white quartz countertops with warm live-edge walnut slab accents. We created a trellis of Douglas Fir and accented it with stone, steel and a bold chevron patterned tile to create tension and visual interest.

The locker rooms and bathrooms maintain the bold color concept with black, white and grey geometric tile contrasting white countertops and light laminate lockers, countertop accents and stall partitions. The new sleek designs for the sauna and steam rooms include wall accents in corresponding mosaic tile, and the jacuzzi room was updated with dark grey ledge stone accent walls against white.

The cost-effective contemporary design does not lose the sense of location at the base of the Palisades Tahoe ski resort. We had to be resourceful and create high-impact visual areas while keeping within the budget. The sophisticated design creates a sense of location with subtle references to the historic Olympic Valley, without obvious and cliché elements to keep the lodge, mountain feel.