The ENVOY opened in 2015 as one of the first new developments in the now thriving Seaport. As an “envoy” or emissary of the creative and cutting-edge “innovation district,” The Envoy stands as a beacon for locals and travelers alike who are seeking what’s next. Drawing from the intriguingly intimate scale and siting – with tremendous views towards Boston’s skyline, the harbor and waterways – the brand evolved to embrace this optimistic new place and signal change, bringing a fresh point of view to evolving Boston. With its killer rooftop perch and location – from the get-go, The ENVOY earned its spot in every season.

Korn Design, working closely with client/ownership, Norwich Partners, and Group One Partners architects / interior design team, led the evolution of this property, pioneering an immersive brand experience true to the Envoy’s abiding watchwords, “This Way Forward.” Serving as both a rally cry for the creative community it hosts and the inspiring neighborhood it calls home, the Envoy embodied the trailblazing spirit of Boston’s newly coined “Innovation District.”

Optimistic and pioneering, the brand experience and the interiors design are in sync – speaking to materiality, simplicity and a play between the gritty, industrial texture of the active seaport and the shining glass, steel and polished surfaces of the building itself.

It’s apparent we had some fun with the brand identity: it’s purposely confident yet quirky – intentionally playful and handcrafted – and utilizes basic shapes as letterforms that nimbly twist and turn like innovative leaders in today’s world. Tipping its hat to technology, it’s inspired by both art and code and delivers multiple meanings. The warm yellow accent, distinct to The Envoy Hotel brand palette, dances throughout the environment, signage, guest rooms and amenities as a happy and positive pop that echoes the upbeat nature of the property, what it stands for, and who it serves.

Messaging is embedded in both grand and intimate scale into architectural elements, so that it may speak to visitors as they inhabit the hotel’s spaces: “This Way Forward” greets all who cross the hotel’s threshold, while “On The Way to Everywhere” is boldly carved into the lobby’s marble-clad walls. Floor-to-ceiling photographic seascape horizons provide the scene as guests travel upward in the elevators, cuing the constant ebb and flow of this place and its outward viewpoint.

In-room, the brand sings through sculptural objects such as the custom-designed TV bike stands and riveted luggage stools that carry messaging to marry form and function – in a room designed with the efficiency of a fabulous sailboat. The effect is much like being front-and-center on the bow with views that state this is the heart of the action, set on the glorious Boston harbor. The journey is made perfectly comfortable with accessories like thick fleece-lined sweatshirt-hooded robes, and a selection of local spirits, snacks and bath amenities from Boston-born Fresh.

The Envoy Hotel is wholly original. A gathering place for kindred spirits – and perfect for those who live out loud wherever it is they go . . . a gleaming light on the Boston horizon.

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