Fairmont Breakers Hotel Long Beach
Beach, California
Merit Award
Presented by ARCO National Construction
owner Pacific 6
Leading design company GMA Design Group
General Contractor ARCO National Construction
When this building opened in 1926, it was a luxury waterfront resort, but recently operated as a 233-unit congregate care center. In 2018, a renovation began to transform the landmark into a boutique hotel, with modern energy efficiency systems and historic aesthetics.
The project involved the restoration of key architectural elements such as the exterior facade, the ornate lobby ceiling, a World War II cupola-mounted pillbox and the arcade corridor. The revitalized 14-story property now features 185 guest rooms and suites, a 4,000-square-foot pool, several restaurants and more than 9,000 square feet of retail space.
Custom aluminum windows maintained the building’s original character, and seismic modifications ensured compliance with modern safety standards. But completing the seismic upgrade of the structure required extensive installation of concrete shear wall and FRP reinforcement.
The team also had to demolish and reinforce concrete-filled window openings in updated guest rooms and public spaces to ensure compliance with modern codes and preserve historic integrity.
