Hotel defects prompted renovations

Only seven years after its opening, the Hilton Inn at Penn is being renovated because mold has spread throughout the building, and a real estate professional involved in the project says that "somebody at some point screwed up in a big way."

The $9 million renovation project -- which began in November -- was prompted by water damage as a result of construction defects, according to Design and Construction Director Darrin Reazor, the project manager for the renovations.

An evaluation by Hilton Hotels Corp. found over the summer that the Inn at Penn did not meet its standards.

The mold developed because of two structural problems: leaks around the windows and negative pressure in the building caused by the climate control system, which forced moisture through the brick exterior of the building and into the interior walls, Reazor said.

But not everyone is satisfied with the explanation. "It's rare that they have to pull the skin off of a building" so soon after it opens, the real estate professional, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

The Inn at Penn first opened in September 1999.

According to the source, LaSalle Partners Incorporated was originally hired by the University to develop the construction project.

LaSalle Partners no longer exists after its merger with Jones Lang Wootton in 1999. The company is now known as Jones Lang LaSalle.

In April 1998, after the construction of the hotel had begun, the University outsourced its facilities and real estate operations to the Trammell Crow Company, leaving no one to manage the hotel construction, the source said.

"After the employees were outsourced to Trammell Crow, no one was looking over LaSalle Partner's shoulder," the source said. "Somehow, some pretty horrendous mistakes were allowed to happen."

Trammell Crow Company Area Director and Principal Jeff Goggins said that Trammell Crow was involved in various projects at Penn but that he had no recollection of any involvement with the development of the Inn at Penn.

The source said that this was a very complicated project since there was "a very ambitious plan for the developer to maintain a lively streetscape and an elaborate entrance at the rear" of the hotel.

"The University challenged this developer to do something better than they usually do. But it's tough," the source said.

Trammell Crow remained in charge of the University's operations and maintenance departments until 2000, and it continued working on design and construction until early 2002. At this point, University staff resumed complete control of Penn's facilities and real estate operations.

University officials had not responded to requests for comment on the building's construction by press time.

Reazor said that in order to fix the mold problem, exterior repairs are being made: Windows are being replaced and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are being upgraded. On the interior of the building, the residual mold that has formed behind the wallpaper in some of the rooms is being removed.

In addition to these changes, many of the hotel's guest rooms are being updated with various amenities, Reazor said.

"The renovation is going nicely and the hotel will be greatly enhanced when it is completed," University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said.

The 140 guest rooms currently undergoing renovation will be unavailable until April, at which point renovation will begin on the remaining 98 rooms, lasting until August.

To mitigate the effects of the scaffolding in front of the hotel on surrounding businesses, Reazor said that additional lighting and signage has been installed to improve visibility for stores.

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