Another kind of hospitality that's in demand in South Florida is one that forms a tightly knit, neighborhood-like experience, NBWW partner Igor Reyes tells us—even in large properties. That's the case for the new Hilton West Palm Beach, he says, which topped off this week. The development, which will connect to the existing Palm Beach County Convention Center, is no boutique, at 400 rooms and over 24k SF of meeting space.

Instead of designing a front garden with a grand arrival sequence, typical of other convention hotels, Igor says NBWW pushed the building toward the site's edge to create a street presence. That approach to positioning allowed the firm to include additional elements, such as a spacious recreation deck along the back of the building, adjacent to the ballroom facilities. The 12-story building will also feature a three-story accent overlooking Okeechobee Boulevard, which called for special detailing and materials, thus making the added layer a distinctive element of the hotel.