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Reviving a Coastal Gem: Sylvia Beach Hotel 352 196 Alexxis Plata

Reviving a Coastal Gem: Sylvia Beach Hotel

Reviving a Coastal Gem: VIP Hospitality Group Partners with PPM to Transform Sylvia Beach Hotel

An Iconic Hotel Revitalized While Preserving its Literary Soul

Reviving a Coastal Gem: VIP Hospitality Group Partners with PPM to Transform Sylvia Beach Hotel

An Iconic Hotel Revitalized While Preserving its Literary Soul

Positioned on the stunning Oregon Coast, Sylvia Beach Hotel stands as a unique, historic property that has been a beloved destination for book lovers and travelers alike. This 21-room hotel, perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the ocean, was acquired by and is now under the management of VIP Hospitality Group, a company known for its focus on independent, boutique-style properties. With a deep respect for the hotel’s history as well as a vision for its future, VIP has begun a project to revitalize Sylvia Beach Hotel while preserving its distinctive charm.

As-Built Scope of Work

  • Revit Model
  • Floor Plans
  • Roof Plan
  • Exterior Elevations
  • Still Photos

VIP Hospitality Group's Vision

VIP Hospitality Group has a clear vision: to manage unique, independent properties that blend bed and breakfast charm with upscale hotel amenities. Sylvia Beach Hotel, with its oceanfront location and literary-themed rooms, fit perfectly into this vision. Acquired in May 2024, the hotel complements VIP’s nearby properties, the Inn at Nye Beach and Ocean House. These locations share a similar charm and are close enough to share resources, which is the ideal situation for VIP’s specialized approach.

Unique Project Plans

Since acquiring the property, VIP Hospitality Group has been operating Sylvia Beach Hotel as is, planning major renovations for the fall and winter months. The goal is to reopen in the spring with a refreshed look and feel, while preserving the unique elements that have made the hotel a cherished space for guests to unplug, relax, and enjoy the serene environment with a good book.

VIP plans to maintain the author-themed rooms while enhancing the guest experience with high-end amenities and expanded event spaces. The group is particularly excited about the potential to host weddings, anniversaries, and corporate retreats, leveraging the hotel’s large dining space and breathtaking ocean views. They also plan to standardize high-quality bedding and linens across all rooms, enhancing the comfort of the stay.

Collaborating with PPM for Accurate As-Built Plans

VIP Hospitality Group’s decision to engage us for their As-Built plans was driven by their previous positive experience. They value precision and detail in their renovations, making accurate As-Built plans and a 3D Revit model essential for their architects and designers. Sylvia Beach Hotel, like many older buildings, lacked proper documentation of its existing conditions. By partnering with PPM, they ensured that their team had the exact measurements and the detailed model needed to plan the renovation with confidence.

VIP Hospitality Group logo

“Working with PPM has been great. The surveyors were professional and fast on-site. I was impressed with how they can work around a busy, operating hotel. They were accommodating getting in and out of spaces with minimal disruption to the guests and did a great job.”

VIP Hospitality Group | Portland, OR

Project Management Insights

Colin Maloney, PPM’s Pacific Northwest Regional Director, served as the Project Manager for this endeavor. He was struck by the serenity of the hotel, the picturesque setting, and the beautiful coastal location. He also appreciated the cooperative nature of the hotel staff, which allowed our team to complete the necessary scans efficiently and without disrupting the tranquil atmosphere.

A Seamless Survey

Ben Johnson, our lead surveyor responsible for capturing the hotel’s data, minimized impact by coordinating closely with the hotel staff and by using the GeoSLAM ZEB Revo RT scanner for the survey. The software used with this scanner can merge scans seamlessly. This was a crucial feature for this hotel, since stopping and starting was necessary to reduce guest disruption.

Quality Assurance

Christina Keddington, our Quality Assurance Specialist for this project, emphasized the importance of accuracy, especially in a building as old and rich in character as Sylvia Beach Hotel. She meticulously compared the 3D model against point clouds and photos to ensure that every detail was captured correctly, from the alignment of the floors to the intricate exterior elements.

The unique architectural features of the hotel, including its balconies, railings, and stonework, made the QA process both challenging and rewarding. Keddington took satisfaction in ensuring that each of the 21 guest rooms were accurately represented in the model. The result was a detailed 3D Revit model that faithfully reflected the hotel’s structure, even though she never visited the site in person.

Precision and Partnership

VIP Hospitality Group’s vision for Sylvia Beach Hotel is to honor its storied past while enhancing its future. By partnering with us, they’ve ensured that their renovation plans are based on accurate and detailed information. This project demonstrates the importance of quality As-Built plans for preserving the unique character of historic properties. To learn more about VIP, visit their website at www.viphgroup.com.

Assessing and Leasing Commercial Spaces in Real Estate 352 196 Alexxis Plata

Assessing and Leasing Commercial Spaces in Real Estate

As-Built Plans: A Key Tool for Assessing and Leasing Commercial Spaces

Overcoming Logistical Challenges in Commercial Real Estate

As-Built Plans: A Key Tool for Assessing and Leasing Commercial Spaces

Overcoming Logistical Challenges in Commercial Real Estate

OTJ Architects is a leading architecture and design firm that collaborates with large organizations during pivotal development phases. With a nationwide footprint, OTJ creates lasting, human-centric solutions that emphasize diversity, wellness, and sustainability across various sectors, including commercial real estate, corporate, government, life sciences, and more.

OTJ Architects partnered with us on a significant commercial real estate assessment project in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project’s main focus was to accurately measure and document tenant spaces across three structures totaling 213,000 square feet. Thanks to meticulous planning and execution, we provided OTJ Architects with As-Built plans their client could use for marketing and leasing purposes.

We explore insights below shared by Peter Ducas, Senior Principal at OTJ Architects, and Colin Lenkeit, PPM’s National Project Manager, about their experiences and the project’s unique challenges.

As-Built Scope of Work

  • Floor Plans
  • Still Photos

The Client's Needs and Project Motivation

Peter explained that their client had a pressing need for As-Built drawings of their buildings to market them to new prospective tenants. Many of the spaces in these buildings had been occupied for extended periods of time by federal government tenants, and the building records were outdated. As tenants moved out, the need for up-to-date CAD drawings became crucial for test fits and to create marketing plans for new tenants.

Specifically, the goal for the floor plans was to identify all interior walls, doors, and millwork so that the marketing materials accurately represented the spaces. The detailed documentation allowed the building owners to reconfigure spaces as needed, especially when large tenants moved out. Although no remodeling was planned at the time, the As-Built plans we provided were utilized for various test fits.

Additionally, the As-Built plans were used to complete Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) calculations for the buildings according to the most recent BOMA Office Standard. This recalculation subsequently increased the rentable square footage of the buildings, which will be incorporated into tenant leases as they are renewed or as new tenants lease space.

Peter Ducas, Senior Principal at OTJ Architects

"I was impressed with PPM's capabilities. There was great communication throughout the process and their agility in dealing with various tenants, including some secure government ones, was very appreciated."

- Peter Ducas, Senior Principal at OTJ Architects

On-Site Logistics and Challenges

The on-site logistics presented several challenges. Many tenants had specific requests or declined access, particularly government agencies with strict rules about their office spaces. For instance, one tenant did not allow cameras, a standard tool we use for quality assurance and client review. Another tenant was wary of the digital measuring tools, requiring our on-site surveyors to sign NDAs and various waivers to gain access.

Despite these hurdles, we successfully navigated the complexities. Colin explained that measuring this project using traditional methods rather than LiDAR laser scanners was necessary due to budget constraints and tenant requirements. Traditional methods proved to be the best approach, given the client’s needs and the specific challenges posed by the tenants. Since those methods take longer, we deployed three surveyors to expedite the process for the client.

Colin Lenkeit, National Project Manager at PPM

"We listen to the client, understand what their focus is, and build their plans around that. The focus could be accuracy, price, speed, etc. It could be a simple set of drawings or a very complicated set of drawings. We consider all variables when determining the best production method for each project."

- Colin Lenkeit, National Project Manager at PPM

Unique Building Features and Measurement Techniques

One of the buildings had a massive, curved edge that made gathering traditional measurements more difficult. Organic shapes, such as curves and wavy walls, increased the time needed on-site to document details accurately. Lenkeit elaborated on the process, explaining how we used a known framework to survey the difficult parts. In this instance, we worked off two 90-degree angles and three straight walls, then connected the dots to figure out the curve.

The Power of Precise Measurements

The collaboration between OTJ Architects and our team highlights the importance of precise measurements and As-Built plans in commercial real estate. Through careful planning, adaptation to on-site challenges, and efficient use of traditional measurement techniques, we delivered high-quality results that will aid OTJ Architects’ client with leasing their spaces effectively and increasing their return on investment. This project demonstrates the value of expertise and meticulous execution in understanding and transforming commercial spaces. To learn more about OTJ Architects and their work, visit their website here.

Expanding and Upgrading Commercial Retail Spaces 1080 602 Alexxis Plata

Expanding and Upgrading Commercial Retail Spaces

Expanding and Upgrading Commercial Retail Spaces

The Power of As-Built Plans in Nationwide Remodel Programs: O'Reilly Auto Parts

Expanding and Upgrading Commercial Retail Spaces

The Power of As-Built Plans in Nationwide Remodel Programs: O'Reilly Auto Parts

In the world of Remodel and Rollout programs for established companies, meticulous planning is paramount. When these businesses plan to roll out upgrades to their stores or move into new locations, As-Built plans are a foundational step in the design process, ensuring that every detail is well documented to prepare for the project’s vision.

This Project Showcase explores the role of As-Built plans in the context of a Commercial Remodel Program. Throughout our partnership with O’Reilly Auto Parts, PPM has delivered over 25 sets of As-Builts and streamlined their design process as new remodel opportunities arise. In this article, we’ll focus on a store from the program located in South Bend, Indiana. We’ll hear from both our client and our Quality Assurance Specialist who played vital roles in ensuring the success of the venture.

Every Project has a Motivation

The motivation for the remodel was twofold - physical expansion and brand enhancement. Our client, a Real Estate Design Manager, shared their insights into the purpose of the project. For this location, the client was presented with a unique opportunity. They had leased a portion of their building, and their tenant was vacating the space. It was the perfect time for O’Reilly Auto Parts to seize the moment, expand their business, and update the outdated branding with their new, modern standards. Our client referred to As-Built plans as "CD sets", or construction document sets, underscoring their role as the foundation for the remodel.

As-Built Scope of Work

  • Floor Plan 
  • Roof Plan
  • Reflected Ceiling Plan
  • Exterior Elevations 
  • Site Plan
  • O’Reilly Site Survey Report
  • Survey Coverage Photos
  • MEP Detail Photos
  • 360 Photo Virtual Tour

Choosing the Right As-Built Partner for a Multi-Site Project

Selecting the right partner for creating As-Built plans is a significant decision. Our client identified two reasons for their decision to partner with Precision Property Measurements for this multi-site project: their need for quick turnaround time and our national availability and readiness to meet their requirements.

“PPM has the quickest turnaround time in terms of receiving the final deliverable. We work with lots of companies, and PPM is the only company that has people readily available across the nation to quickly tackle our As-Built survey needs.”
– Real Estate Design Manager, O’Reilly Auto Parts

Quality Assurance: Excellence in Every Detail

Quality Assurance is a critical step in PPM’s As-Built process. Pyra Pao, the PPM QA Specialist for this project, shared, “We deliver Worry-Free As-Built plans, so every plan type is important. The Reflected Ceiling Plan was the most time consuming, especially the sales floor retail space. One method that helped me review it was having the photo reference or ‘panoramic tour’ oriented the same way as the floor plan. That way the items in the photos lined up with the floor plan and were much easier to confirm.” (pictured right)

Pyra offered insights into the surveying and drafting processes: “The information was captured with photos and laser distance meter measurements. If I were to draft this site, the biggest challenge I would face would be documenting the correct heights and spacings of RCP items, but our drafters do a great job.” (pictured below)

Pyra Pao

Quality Assurance Specialist

Precision Property Measurements

Pyra enjoys quality checking projects that require minimal revisions. He values creating accurate As-Built plans the first time around, as well as the essence of quality assurance – precision and accuracy. Our drafters and modelers always aim to make their deliverables as accurate as possible before handing them off to their respective QA safety nets.

As-Built Plans Instill Confidence

All in all, the journey of commercial remodels, especially those involved in a multi-site Remodel Program, is a collaborative effort. As-Built plans serve as the foundation, ensuring every detail is able to be built upon to bring about the project’s vision before moving into construction. With the right As-Built partner, which includes a dedicated Quality Assurance Specialist, and a client’s vision, these projects evolve from ideas into successful transformations. The value of As-Built plans is not merely in the data; it’s in the potential they unlock, the precision they deliver, and the confidence they instill in businesses looking to expand and upgrade their brand.

To view and learn more about O’Reilly Auto Parts store construction, visit https://corporate.oreillyauto.com/real-estate-contractors .