Today Portman Holdings along with general contractor Hensel Phelps has announced that Union Tower West will begin construction with an official ground breaking ceremony on April 9th. This mixed-use development will include office space and a hotel component and will rise to 12 stories at 1801 Wewatta in Denver’s Union Station neighborhood.

The hotel portion, a Hotel Indigo will include 180 rooms and signage is shown in the most recent rendering of the project. Global brand Hotel Indigo is a boutique hotel and each of its locations are designed to reflect the local culture. There are 61 Hotel Indigos around the world and plans call for that number to reach 100 in the next three to five years.

Above Hotel Indigo will sit 100,000 feet of Class A office space. Opportunities for food and beverage concepts are available in 10,000 square feet of featured retail space. Union West Tower will be constructed on the block that is located just to the northeast of the 17W residential and retail development that just broke ground a few weeks ago. Denver’s Union Station, the transit hub of the front range population corridor is located just a block and and half away from this development. RTD commuter rail service to Denver International airport will begin in 2016. A RTD light rail station sits adjacent to the Union West Tower site with current service and connections to Denver’s west, southwest, and southeast suburbs.

“We feel that the design of this building, and its vertically stacked multiple uses, complement and enhance the appeal of LoDo, where we’re thrilled to be developing property,” said Portman Holdings CEO Ambrish Baisiwala. “We know that the Hotel Indigo brand approach will bring a strong local feel and the character of the Union Station neighborhood to life within this distinct property.”

Regions Financial Corporation will provide the construction loan for approximately $92 million for Union Tower West. Canyon Capital Realty Advisors is supplying equity financing.

“Canyon is excited to be part of the transformation of Denver’s downtown by partnering with an experienced development team,” said Marti Page, Senior Director at Canyon Realty.

John Portman & Associates is the architect of record and has designed projects around the world with offices located in Atlanta and Shanghai. John Portman & Associates began operations in 1953 and have designed projects in over 60 cities.

Construction of Union West Tower is expected to be completed within 20 months.