Renovation of the Victorian building of the Hotel Del Coronado
Coronado, Calif.
Reform/Restoration
Sent by: Swinnerton
Region: ENR West
Owner: BRE Hotels & Resorts
Main design company: GSB Architects
General contractor: Swinerton Builders
Civil Engineer: Hale Engineering & Surveying Inc.
Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers
MEP Engineer: EXP
Historical architect: Architecture and heritage planning
Landscape architect: Burton Studio Inc.
The Hotel del Coronado Victorian building renovation in Coronado, California improved, restored and expanded the existing 137-year-old structure. The number of guest rooms has been increased from 367 to 404, while meeting spaces, ballrooms and other guest spaces have been updated. The exterior, mechanical, electrical and plumbing facade were also among the many improvements made to the building.
Due to the historic nature of the structure, a specialized security plan was implemented. The staff received training specifically aimed at working with this type of building. Because the original Victorian was built primarily of wood, fire safety was particularly important. With this in mind, the team instituted a 24-hour third-party fire watch. Dust control and vibration control were used to protect the most delicate finishes.
Photo courtesy of Brian Doll
“Restoring such an iconic landmark, which was originally built in 1888, required a unique combination of technical expertise and a deep respect for its history,” said Mike Berryhill, vice president and division manager of Swinerton, the project’s general contractor. “The Victorian building predates modern air conditioning systems, reliable electricity and even private bathrooms, and decades of previous advances and renovations had left each of the 404 rooms truly unique, many with compromised structural integrity.”
The project was completed ahead of schedule in May 2025.
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