Spirit of hospitality continues with Inn renovation

01.18.2016 - Conference & Retreat, Groups, Inn Renovation

Kanuga offers a wider welcome

From our beginning in 1928, Kanuga has offered genuine hospitality to its many guests, beginning with founder Bishop Kirkman George Finlay’s legendary efforts to make guests feel welcome and comfortable.

That tradition continues today with the extensive renovation of the Kanuga Lake Inn, now underway. One of the fundamental reasons for the renovation is to improve accessibility for all who visit.

“Accessibility can be difficult in a renovation, working within existing walls, structure and other constraints,” said Becky Brantley, the lead architect with Garvin Design Group, the firm chosen for the Inn renovation. “Kanuga’s leadership has been dedicated to greatly improving the accessibility of the Inn throughout every step of the design process.”

The full experience of a guest has been considered during the planning of the renovation, from how one enters the Inn to how comfortably a guest can move through a room given the new furniture layout.

From the moment of arrival, guests will notice a welcome difference with the addition of a new covered entry, or “porte-cochère,” for loading and unloading. This addition will provide easy access for all, rain or shine. Guests in a wheelchair will now be able to enter from the Inn parking lot and navigate easily throughout the building. Before the renovation, the parking lot was located more than five feet below the first floor of the Inn, with only stair access from the parking lot.

This enhanced entry boasts a paved entrance with four accessible parking spaces with paved sidewalk connections directly into the new entry. Once inside, guests will be greeted by an open foyer with stairs and a new elevator with four stops, including the new parking level, and each existing floor. This new entrance is not only accessible for those with mobility challenges; it is friendlier to families with strollers and luggage.

While building code requires that four guest rooms be accessible, Kanuga chose to provide 11 accessible rooms—the maximum amount the existing building dimensions would allow. These rooms offer accessible bathroom configurations, roll-in showers with a folding seat and grab bars, toilet grab bars, accessible vanities and furniture layouts to allow for required travel path and door clearances. Other improvements include visual fire alarms to alert hearing-impaired visitors in the event of an emergency.

“The renovation is designed to fulfill the needs of Kanuga guests of all levels of ability,” said Jimmy Haden, vice president of hospitality and sales. “From a hospitality standpoint, it allows us to provide a wider welcome to all, which is an important part of the Kanuga spirit.”

The Kanuga Lake Inn is scheduled to reopen this May.If you have questions about the renovation or wish to make your contribution to the capital campaign designated to fund the project, please contact Vice President of Advancement Gary Giniat at 828-233-2816 or gary.giniat@kanuga.org. More information about giving to Kanuga.