Set between Pavilion Beach and Gloucester’s working Inner Harbor, Beauport Hotel Gloucester is a 94-room, full-service waterfront hotel shaped by the North Shore’s grand seaside hotels and summer houses. OLSON LEWIS + Architects joined Windover Construction’s design-build team, with interiors by Neimitz Design Group, to create a contemporary destination for overnight stays, dining, weddings, conferences, and community gatherings.
Gambrel roofs, dormers, weathered cedar shingles, copper accents, broad wood decks, and cable railings give the exterior a distinctly New England coastal character. A pier-inspired base connects the building to Gloucester’s working waterfront, while an illuminated central tower recalls the industrial landmark that once stood on the site. Visible from land and sea, the tower houses the guest elevators and provides access to the rooftop.
Guests arrive through an open-air garage level screened with timber, then ascend a grand stair that frames the ocean view at the entrance to the main lobby. The first floor brings together reception areas, 1606 Restaurant + Oyster Bar, a ballroom, meeting rooms, and pre-function spaces. French doors open the restaurant, bar, and event rooms onto an expansive waterfront deck with an open pavilion, fire pit, and shaded seating. Separate restaurant and catering kitchens support daily dining, room service, weddings, and large events without interrupting one another.
Guest rooms and suites occupy the second and third floors, with varied configurations that respond to the building’s irregular footprint. Many include waterfront balconies, fireplaces, and sliding glass doors that bring daylight and ocean views into the rooms. On the roof, a private pool, spa, and bar create a separate destination for hotel guests, with views across both the harbor and the Atlantic. Moving the pool to the roof also preserved the first-floor deck for dining and events.
The exposed coastal site required the architecture to address flooding, storm surge, and hurricane-force winds. A concrete seawall, elevated public spaces, impact-resistant windows and doors, and mechanical and electrical equipment located above the garage level improve the building’s resilience. A hybrid system of concrete, steel, and prefabricated wood framing allowed the fast-track project to meet a complex program within strict height and footprint limits. Carefully integrated mechanical systems preserve larger windows, open views, and the traditional character of the exterior.
