Roedel Companies begin masonry restoration at Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake

New Hampshire-based hotel owner/operators Roedel Companies have begun restoring the limestone detail on the exterior of the Hotel Saranac. Much of the original limestone which was used on the entrance, storefront facades, windowsills and wave-motif towards the top of the building was covered with ivory paint in the late 20th century. Roedel Companies is removing the paint in order to preserve the original architectural character of the building. According to historic preservation consultant Kimberly Alvarez of Landmark Consulting, American architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century included a lot of Indiana limestone detail work on buildings, primarily used on the exterior of homes and commercial buildings. "The architects of the Hotel Saranac, William Henry Scopes and Maurice Mayer Feustmann, used limestone because it was durable yet allowed them to carve exquisite detail across the property," said Alvarez. "It also provided contrast from the red brick that is used throughout the hotel's façade." "This project is yet another step in removing the inappropriate layers added over the decades to reveal the Hotel's historic character and bring it back to its former glory," said Fred Roedel III, partner of Roedel Companies and president of ROK Builders. "By removing the paint, we'll also be able to assess any damage and make the necessary repairs." ROK Builders, the hotel construction affiliate of Roedel Companies, and Freeman French Freeman, Inc., the lead architect, are working with Alpine Restoration on the project. The Hotel Saranac will remain closed during construction and reopen in 2015. Roedel Companies owns and operates nationally branded hotels primarily in the select service segments throughout the Eastern United States. Their properties include a growing portfolio of nationally branded and independent hotels including Hilton Garden Inns, Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites, Holiday Inns, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and La Quinta Inns & Suites. Roedel Companies recently added the Courtyard by Marriott in Nashua, N.H. and the Holiday Inn in Mount Kisco, N.Y. to their hotel portfolio.