Luxe et al are delighted to announce that Delta Air Lines who were the Winners of the Airport Lounge Award in The International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2017.
The SEA Club provides an inviting environment, and every detail represents Delta’s commitment to ensuring the best possible customer experience. Delta Air Lines opened Seattle’s second Delta Sky Club on Oct. 21, 2016 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at the intersection of Concourses A and B, adjacent to Gate A1. The Club features modern décor, picturesque views of Mount Rainier, six shower suites (designed with long-haul customers in mind) and more than 400 seats, making it a relaxing environment for guests to touch down before, after and between flights. Delta’s signature blue glass backdrop greets guests at the reception desk where dedicated Club ambassadors provide personalised assistance. The fluid shapes found throughout the Club’s design pay homage to the Pacific Northwest’s waterways and move through the reception and customer service areas, creating a natural flow that draws guests to the centre of the lounge. The lounge spans two levels with an open floorplan, 30-foot ceilings with curved panelling, two dramatic floating staircases and a mezzanine level with an art gallery. The twisting mezzanine meshes seamlessly with the gently curved ceiling, mirroring the layout of THE BAR below.
The most innovative and sustainable feature in the Club is the energy-efficient, electrically tinted windows manufactured by View Dynamic Glass. These intelligent windows with electrochromic glass keep the Club temperature and sunlight at optimal levels, reducing energy costs, eliminating the need for window coverings and allowing guests to stay connected to the outdoors. They have tinting that can be automatically controlled through light sensors on the building’s exterior or manually controlled through a smartphone app. The blue windows also integrate perfectly with Delta’s brand colors.
The Club’s furnishings come from some of the top furnishing manufacturers in the world, including Boss Designs, Keilhauer, Knoll and Steelcase. Though the space features an open design, the designers managed to achieve a balance between space-efficiency and privacy with strategic furniture arrangements, quiet work areas and custom divider screens which maximize privacy without blocking light. The Delta Sky Club team worked with Boss Designs to create custom-made sofas with high walls for privacy, conveniently integrated power outlets and luxuriously upholstered Scottish leather from Muirhead. They also kept the views of Mount Rainer in mind when creating the seating layout for the entire Club, from the dining area to the mezzanine level, making every seat seem like the best seat in the house.
The bespoke banquette in the center of the Club was created by the Club’s in-house design team to create versatile gathering places, including both intimate areas for solo travelers and casual, conversational areas for larger groups. Guests can choose from large, circular tables, individual seats divided by powered armrests made of solid walnut, powered cyber bars and two American black walnut live edge tables with brushed stainless legs. The walnut tables complement the stacked walnut wall at the Club’s entrance, and the tables’ live edge detail further echoes the Pacific Northwest region and the flowing curves found throughout the space. The banquette was intentionally crafted using dimensions and materials typically found in residential environments for maximum durability in a high traffic environment and maximum comfort for travellers on long layovers.
THE BAR at Delta Sky Club offers a variety of premium and complimentary beverage options including Washington wines, locally inspired cocktails, IPA craft beer, a self-serve espresso machine and freshly brewed Starbucks coffee. One challenge the designers faced during the design process was figuring out how to work around a Washington state liquor law that prohibits seating from being located directly at bars in airport lounges. The solution was to create a large, central island which creates an informal gathering space for guests to swap stories about their travels while sipping on custom crafted cocktails. The island’s surface is made of terrazzo with large flecks of cobalt blue glass and it’s surrounded by roomy leather stools with molded walnut backings. Arguably THE BAR’s most striking feature is the backlit backdrop made blue Kimono silk glass by LivingGlass.
The Club also has a full-sized kitchen and buffet area intentionally designed to flow with the rest of the Club, highlighting Seattle’s culinary culture by featuring exclusive menu items by acclaimed Chef Ethan Stowell. The dining tables are evenly spaced to offer plenty of privacy, and conveniently placed, custom power poles provide outlets throughout the dining area.