South Dakota hotel on the cutting edge of design

Floor Covering Weekly - November 6, 1995

The Business Newspaper of the Floor Covering Industry

BY CATHERINE MULLADY

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Through the use of water jet technology, the owner of a hotel in Rapid City, S.D., aims to capture the natural beauty of the area in the refurbishing of the hotel's interior and exterior.

After purchasing the former Rapid City Hilton and renaming it The Inn at Rapid City, Karim Merali began to research ways in which he could visually enhance the hotel. Merali's search introduced him to water jet technology, the method by which intricate designs are cut into very hard materials through the use of high-pressure water jet streams. He eventually met Harri Aalto, co-owner of water jet fabricator Creative Edge Corp.

Aalto was instructed to create the most inspirational water jet designs he could develop. "The idea is to have the hotel theme together with the surrounding area," Aalto said. "We want people not just to come see the attractions in the area but to see the hotel as well."

The project encompasses floor covering outside the hotel and inside the lobby, restaurant and elevator areas. A huge mural will also be installed behind the reception counter.

Granite is slated for the exterior floor with about six inches ascending the front pillars. Ceramic tile, stone and resilient are designated for the interior.

Floor medallions inlaid with the images of Mount Rushmore will be part of the lobby, while additional accent designs with a Sioux Indian motif will be placed in appropriate locations. Tabletops in the restaurant will match that area's floor. More than 50 colors will be used on the interior floors.

Granite was chosen for the exterior for its durability and non-slippage. Resilient was selected for the restaurant while stone and 12 x 12 tile will be employed in the lobby.

"You can combine ceramic tile and marble as long as you use it aesthetically and interestingly, and it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb," he said. "There is so much flexibility if you know how to use it."

The floor designs are scheduled to be completed in January. In addition to Aalto, architect Keith Youngquist, AIA, of Aumiller-Youngquist was hired for the project. Merali also connected with the Radisson organization and soon that banner will be flying above the hotel.