by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 1:45 PM ET, Tue December 31, 2024
Travelers visiting Salt Lake City have a new accommodation to check into: Asher Adams Hotel.
The boutique Autograph Collection property may be new, but it’s located inside Salt Lake City’s historic Union Pacific Depot, which is more than 100 years old.
Asher Adams Hotel is breathing new life into the train station, which was built in 1908 in the Second French Empire style. It originally served the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, as well as the Oregon Short Line Railroad.
Global architecture firm HKS spearheaded the design, in collaboration with JNS Architecture + Interior Design, Lang Lighting Studio, Nine Dots Arts, Reaveley Engineers, Blum Engineers, Holmes and MGB+A Studio.
The hotel includes the original depot footprint, as well as an 8-story addition (Photo Credit: Alan Blakely)
The partners helped meticulously preserve the depot’s original 48,500 square feet—including its murals, skylights, stained glass and arched windows—while also building a new 8-story addition.
“We sought to celebrate the iconic Union Pacific Depot while creating a sophisticated, contemporary design that respects the building’s original character,” says Emir Tursic, principal-in-charge at HKS. “The new addition’s refined and restrained aesthetic allows the historic station to remain the centerpiece while introducing a modern hospitality experience that is equally timeless and inviting.”
The hotel lobby, restaurants and meeting spaces are all located inside the original depot, along with 13 specialty rooms and suites that highlight the building’s historic charm. Meanwhile, the rest of the guest rooms are located inside the newly constructed tower.
In total, the property features 225 guest rooms, four dining venues and 9,600 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The hotel’s dining venues include Rouser, an upscale New American eatery; No. 119, a whiskey-forward cocktail bar overlooking the Grand Hall; Counterpart, a coffee and pastry shop; and The Bar at Asher Adams, a cocktail bar inspired by the golden age of train travel.
Located in downtown Salt Lake City, the hotel offers direct access to the TRAX light rail for easy access to Salt Lake International Airport. It’s also within walking distance of the Delta Center, Salt Palace Convention Center and Temple Square. Guests can also enjoy views of the Wasatch Mountains.
The hotel’s name is a nod to cartographers John R. Asher and George H. Adams, who included railroad routes on maps.
“Our concept for Asher Adams represents the industrious, pioneering spirit of Salt Lake City,” says Nicole Nathan, partner at JNS Architecture + Interior Design. “One of our key priorities was preserving and reviving the rich history of the Depot and celebrating Utah’s role as the pivotal link in the transcontinental railroad—connecting East to West and laying the foundation for Salt Lake City’s evolving identity as an international hub for business, outdoor recreation and cultural heritage.”
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