August 10, 2020

Pandemic puts Bellevue Club Hotel rehab on construction fast track

Photo from Nielsen Commercial [enlarge]

Nielsen Commercial plans to finish rehabbing the Bellevue Club Hotel 10 months early.

While the pandemic has delayed many local construction projects, it is actually speeding up one in Bellevue.

Seattle-based construction firm Nielsen Commercial in February started a $6 million renovation of the Bellevue Club Hotel, only to face months of shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

While the Bellevue Club recently reopened its fitness, dining and wellness operations in limited capacity, it decided to keep the hotel closed so that Nielsen could focus on room renovations and other work. The club originally planned to renovate the hotel in phases over 18 months, allowing its members to access some areas while construction was underway. The move to keep the hotel fully closed is expected to shorten construction by 10 months, allowing the hotel to reopen Oct. 1, with full renovations to be finished in fall/winter 2020.

Nielsen said it is safely managing and rotating crews and subcontractors through the space. Some of its COVID-19 protocols require workers to wear gloves and masks at all times, exercise proper distancing and get daily health screenings.

“Our goal is to turn over rooms as quickly as possible, and we're already starting to see previously demolished areas start to get put back together, which is exciting,” said Nielsen project manager Jason Swanson in a news release. “We have been able to keep our crews to a minimum and keep subcontractors flowing from one room to the next, and we're working closely with the project team to complete design under an aggressive schedule.”

Nielsen's work covers over 37,000 square feet of the hotel and includes upgraded flooring and electrical fixtures, as well as new furniture and finishes throughout the hotel's 66 rooms.

The project also is installing an upgraded HVAC system with an air sanitation and auto-cleaning ionization system from Global Plasma Solutions. This system will boost air quality by capturing, filtering and reducing airborne particles, pathogens, viruses and bacteria.

Finally, the club is installing a solar system on the roof that is expected to cut electricity bills by 35%.

The design team includes Dahlin Architects and Betty Blount with the Zena Design Group.

Nielsen reports the club is now evaluating renovation plans for its Atrium event space and racquetball courts.