A new look for historic hotel
Rodd Charlottetown undergoing a $10-million makeover to be completed in 2031
The Rodd Charlottetown is in the midst of a major $10-million renovation.
The hotel will turn 100 years old in 2031, and the renovations are being designed to take it into the next century and beyond.
“Our goal is to put another 100 years into this building, so we’re not cutting corners," Mark Rostad, director of project management and development for Rodd Hotels and Resorts, said in an interview with Saltwire on Feb. 22.
“We’re going to do this right from the beginning."
The project is slated to be completed in 2031.
Work on the building's exterior and interior is taking place simultaneously. Of the 115 guest rooms, workers are in 30 right now. While masonry work takes place outside, the rooms are being gutted inside in the same area of the hotel.
“Everybody thinks it’s a brick building that is rock solid and maintenance is not needed which is not the case. It was built in 1931, and we had water ingress slowly happening through windows, we had roof issues, things like that and water would always sneak through the brick façade," Rostad said.
“It’s a steel structure, so water was running inside, drip by drip, and it got worse and worse as the freeze-thaw conditions happened here in P.E.I."
As the water got in it would cause the brick exterior to heave outwards, up to 10 times its normal size in some places.
“We were noticing little ripples in the facade. We did some exploratory surgery here in 2018 and noticed there was a lot of deterioration on the steel, so we wanted to find out how bad it was. It was like peeling an onion," said Rostad.
"So, we started doing a lot of demolition that spring and started working on the side of the fire hall. We wanted to waterproof … and put new brick on … and create a waterproofing membrane on the brick to try to extend the life of that. We have a brand new façade on one side.’’
The brick on the hotel is the original brick from when the hotel was built so this is the first serious renovation it has had.
The work is being done in phases with Phase 2 taking place now on the front, closest to the fire hall.
Project managers scoured the United States and China for brick that was like what the hotel originally had.
“You can see on the end of the building that we haven’t touched yet, repairs that were probably done 20 years ago when brick started to bulge. We’re going to take it out and change all the windows.’’
Rodd Hotels and Resorts is paying 80 per cent of the cost of the repairs.
Part of the renovations include an energy efficiency audit by Efficiency P.E.I. and Coles and Associates to turn the hotel into a geothermal operation in another two or three years.
Right now, it costs about $1,200 per day to heat and operate the lights in the hotel.
Workers are also putting in a new sprinkler system that will cover the entire hotel. A system was put in in 1992 that covered the boiler room, laundry room and the fifth floor.
The interior work involves rebuilding all the rooms, including putting in fibreglass double-glazed windows that are more energy efficient with a historic grid panel to make the hotel look like it did originally.
“We’re updating all the rooms we’re in, so, new flooring, new painting, we have a drywall we have to bring in with the fire sprinkler," Rostad said.
He does not think the changes will make the hotel look modern as they are designed to give it a more historical vibe.
“The windows that we put in in the '60s, they didn’t fit with the building at all so these new windows … it will pop up and it will look like a heritage building."
Kevin Jay, general manager of the Rodd Charlottetown, said with all this work the hotel remains open to guests and conferences.
“We are still business as usual," said Jay.
“We're still a full-service hotel. Whether you’re coming in for a night away or a national conference we’re still able to host you. The service has not changed. The spirit of the place has not changed. We’re simply putting a new face on the property."
Jay, who started as general manager in June of last year, said he is proud of the changes.
“There is so much history and to be a part of something that is going to be here long after we are gone is outstanding.’’
Rostad said 97 per cent of the work being done, inside and out, is P.E.I. generated.
He points to the work of West Masonry, of New Haven, P.E.I., that really stands out.
“We’ve got anywhere from six to 12 masons working outside," Rostad said.
“It doesn't matter the temperature, they’re out there working away."