Transforming An Icon

Rockwell Group redefines The Boca Raton's design with luxurious touches that nod to history.

By Nila Do Simon

One of the greatest challenges any artist can face is being asked to reimagine an icon. In this case, the artist was Rockwell Group, a vanguard of interior, product and architectural design whose diverse portfolio includes noted hotels and restaurants, as well as high-end residential projects.

Charged with re-creating the interiors of The Boca Raton, Rockwell viewed its mission not just as a challenge, but an honor. The New York-based firm was tasked with not only redesigning several spaces within the nearly 100-year-old property built by legendary Addison Mizner, but also creating a cohesive fabric that unites all areas of the 200-acre property.

“It’s thrilling to restore the property almost a century later,” says David Rockwell, founder of the firm and one of the world’s most celebrated architects and designers. “As designers, Rockwell Group was in the unique position to create a narrative that’s relevant today and celebrates Mizner’s original vision.”

And if anyone were to understand the tenderness and love that is needed to restore a masterpiece, it’s Rockwell. His firm’s renovation of New York’s Grand Central Station earned a Presidential Design Award, and Rockwell Group has been the go-to designer for lauded chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurants and properties around the globe.

One of the firm’s most exciting assignments was reconfiguring the guestrooms at Tower. Built in 1969, Tower is the tallest building in Palm Beach County, and features 224 guestrooms and suites. The building includes views of either the ocean and Lake Boca Raton, or a stunning sunset.

“Tower is the tallest building in Boca Raton, with incredible views of Lake Boca and beyond,” says Shawn Sullivan, partner at Rockwell Group. “We reconfigured the guestrooms to really take advantage of the spectacular 360-degree vistas.”

Rockwell Group gave the guestrooms a contemporary coastal feel, complete with custom palm leaf-inspired carpet and warm wood accents. Custom lights with oil-rubbed bronze accents add a layer of modern contrast, and glossy grey paint on the guestroom ceilings draws daylight further into the room and reflects the blue water outside the windows. Floridian-inspired artwork throughout the guestrooms adds pops of color and creates a residential feel.

The 23rd- and 24th-floor Penthouse Suites builds on the contemporary, coastal language developed for the guestroom. As guests enter the double doors of the suite, they have uninterrupted views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The suite includes three guestrooms with separate entrances and a six-seat dining area. The core living area is wrapped in fluted wood panels and features hand-tufted area rugs and pendant lights. Motorized shades and drapery control the ambiance and daylight. In the bedrooms, a backlit woven-cane screen serves as a headboard. Custom sliding wood doors with fluted glass infill divide the bedroom from the walk-in closet.

In addition to Tower, Rockwell Group designed several of The Boca Raton’s dining options, including Palm Court, Principessa Ristorante, Sadelle’s and The Flamingo Grill.

Inspired to rethink the spaces for cohesion and luxury, Mizner’s Spanish Colonial design ideals were embraced, to enhance views out to Lake Boca Raton and return the property to A New Golden Era. The result? Spaces that have their own essence with subtle, connecting threads linked to the property’s origins. A collaborative effort, Rockwell Group has partnered closely with South Florida-based architecture and design firm Garcia Stromberg on realization of the project—including execution of design vision, administration of construction and entitlements process.

For Palm Court, considered the main social area of the property, the designers emphasized its standing as the heart of the resort by creating glazed arches framed in black steel—a contemporary interpretation of the arches found throughout the property—that enhance views out to the lake.

“Our goal was to create a welcoming lobby and lounge that restores the building’s original courtyard experience,” Sullivan explains. “Portals enhance views out to the lake and encourage the connection between indoors and out. We also restored and relocated two original large-scale stained-glass windows, which were previously in former restaurant Bar Luna.”

For Principessa Ristorante, it was paramount to transport diners to lakeside dining on the shores of a northern Italian villa. Rockwell Group brought forth elegance and modern touches, including a rich jewel- tone color palette, like the burgundy leather banquettes in the main dining space. There’s also a decanting station on one wall that brings a sense of theater.

With Sadelle’s, in the main dining room, Rockwell Group wrapped the room in blue-wood paneling over the existing plaster walls and added antique mirrors and custom light fixtures behind banquette seating. A terrazzo tile floor in a parquet pattern is a muted backdrop for pops of Floridian garden motifs. The dining room leads to an all-glass conservatory with a glowing trellis ceiling and arched, blackened steel details.

The Flamingo Grill represents a classic Florida restaurant and members-only club, thanks to its tropical feel. In the interior dining room, which was inspired by local flora and fauna, Rockwell Group enhanced the existing vaulted ceiling by adding white painted wood louvers along the perimeter. The outdoor terrace is shaded by large trees and has its own bar.

Even with their reimagined perspectives, Rockwell Group was intent on one thing: Staying true to the integrity of Addison Mizner’s original designs. In order to do so, The Boca Raton team and Garcia Stromberg worked closely with The Boca Raton Historical Society to ensure authenticity in the project.

“Today’s design concept complements the historic façade and interiors with a palette of richly textured materials and contemporary furnishings that enhance the juxtaposition of modern and traditional,” Rockwell says. “We want our designs to lead members and guests on a journey of discovery, and for them to create shared memories in the spaces. The Boca Raton has a sense of grandeur that visually draws visitors into each space.”