Loft-style hotel coming to Durham's American Tobacco Campus

Aloft Durham Downtown, owned by Raleigh company Davidson & Jones and part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. hotel group, will house 134 loft-style rooms, an outdoor pool, a bar, a 24-hour gym, private parking and more than 2,200 square feet of flexible meeting space.

The hotel will be located at the intersection of Blackwell and Vivian streets, near the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

"The leading-edge design and social vibe offered by our Aloft brand is a terrific match for the revitalized American Tobacco Historic District, an exciting, mixed-use complex that has helped accelerate the redevelopment of downtown Durham,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, in a news release.

The Aloft brand currently operates 75 hotels around the world. Aloft Durham Downtown will break ground later this year and is scheduled to open in May 2015.

The American Tobacco Campus, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, is owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company, WRAL's parent company.

Vice President of Real Estate Michael Goodmon said Capitol Broadcasting also plans to expand the Durham Performing Arts Center and has acquired two nearby historic buildings at the campus, which have been renovated to contain numerous apartments as well as retail and office space. 

"Since the rebirth of the American Tobacco Campus almost ten years ago, we have envisioned a complete experience with a full array of services and attractions," Goodmon said in a news release. "While the vision to develop a one-of-a-kind destination has always been there, we've spent countless hours looking for the right plans and partners. By partnering with globally acclaimed Starwood Hotels & Resorts and respected regional powerhouse Davidson & Jones, we’re ready to create an environment worthy of dynamic Durham and the Triangle."