IMEG provided engineering design services for the historic restoration of The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, TX. The hotel was originally built in 1909, and became the first hotel in the nation to be fully air conditioned in 1936. It was also the first to have automatic doors and a drive-up check-in area with an elevator that shuttled guests to their rooms.

Engineers provided electrical engineering design for the hotel, which now has 277 fully remodeled guest rooms, including 72 suites – one of which is a 3,000-sf, three-bed, four-bath presidential suite. The hotel also features a grand lobby known as “Peacock Alley,” a library on the mezzanine, state-of-the-art board rooms, three ballrooms, updated rooftop pool and pool deck, 10th floor terrace, and three dining options — the St. Anthony Club (San Antonio’s first members-only venue), new flagship restaurant Rebelle, and Haunt cocktail lounge.

The electrical design included expanding the existing service to accommodate approximately 900kW of resistive electric heating for new air handling units serving the public spaces, a centralized lighting dimming system, new fire alarm system, and new electrical equipment and systems for the guestrooms, pool, fitness area, and terrace.

The hotel has undergone multiple renovations, additions, and modernizations since its original construction, but this 2015 remodel was the first to restore it to its former glory. The building’s three towers were renovated one at a time instead of floor-by-floor to keep the hotel operational and allow longtime staff members the ability to continue working.