ForrestPerkins, a distinct studio of Perkins Eastman

The iconic Fort Worth landmark built in 1929 to house Sinclair Oil Holdings is now The Sinclair, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel. This 164-room hotel boasts magnificent historic features well preserved over the past ninety years. From its origins as Sinclair Oil Holdings’ headquarters, the structure had always been an office building until the renovation.

The resulting design maintains the stone walls and flooring that distinguish the building’s historic 1929 corridors, which required guest rooms and baths to be planned around them. The old double-height executive suite also posed a challenge to the guest-room layouts and the historic commission’s requirements that original office doors remain in place, even though they were inoperable. The original signage for corridor toilet rooms and stairwells also stayed, giving guests a true sense of the building’s history. The design team took advantage of the two-story executive office, transforming it into a luxurious 16th-floor penthouse suite.

While celebrating its past, the Sinclair also heralds its future as Fort Worth’s first “smart hotel” and one of the country’s most tech-forward and energy-efficient hotels. And departing from the standard diesel generator, its lithium-ion battery makes The Sinclair the world’s first hotel to run on battery-operated power.

The hotel’s interior design draws on Fort Worth’s elevated swagger for a luxurious modern experience. Drawing inspiration from the glamour of the Art Deco period, the material palette includes rich walnut and velvet, sleek marbles, and burnished gold metals. Cowhide and leather are juxtaposed against elegant finishes to create a distinctly Fort Worth experience. Art provides a surprising twist, showcasing pop-culture icons and caricatures of iconic Texas personalities. Guest rooms offer a modern, sleek aesthetic with Italian-made case goods, marble and polished stainless-steel vanities, and wood flooring.