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Wilson Associates has designed and installed more than a million guestrooms in thousands of hotels worldwide. Established in 1971 by President and CEO Trisha Wilson, the firm specializes in interior architectural design, and also works with restaurants, clubs, casinos and high-end residential properties. Wilson Associates does not deliver a signature look or style – instead, it aims to create unique spaces that meet the needs and desires of each client.

“Wilson Associates is well known for high-end, luxury design that stands the test of time,” Wilson says. “We draw on art and cultural influences, local building materials and construction capabilities in the initial phases of each design development. We also bring extensive international experience to our projects, offering a substantial resource of new ideas and design techniques that all contribute to the distinctive nature of each of our projects.”

“We believe in the strength of a design team; the skills of all members melded together to create a balanced designing talent,” she adds. “Our role is important in uniting the architectural expression – both interior with exterior. I am very blessed to work with many different clients all over the world. Through doing so, I am continually inspired and always expanding my cultural horizons.”

For its recent work at the Grand Hyatt Shenzhen in China, Wilson Associates modeled the lobby, main entrance and ballroom after rice paddy fields, “employing geometric shapes to create a modern interpretation of this native environment,” Wilson explains. This “organically enhances the space’s complexity,” she says, because one side of the hotel offers views of the cityscape, and the other provides views of the island’s rural terrain.

The owner expressed concern with the hotel’s original planning, so it turned to Wilson Associates to change the entire building dynamic, Wilson notes. The firm chose rich-toned fabrics, carpeting and contemporary furnishings for the 491 guestrooms, which includes 53 suites and 48 long-stay service apartments. Each guestroom is appointed with a spa-style marble bathroom and features a sliding glass door that automatically frosts when closed.

“The interior design approach was entirely architectural-focused with a theme derived around understated luxury,” Wilson says. “Starting with an initial review of the building’s form, Wilson Associates recreated the entire crown of the tower to resemble a stylized Chinese lantern, complete with jagged angles and enclosed with transparent glazing, which facilitated unobstructed views of the bustling city scene. By carving away the interior space rather than infilling it, the design makes a confident statement about pushing the boundaries of contemporary interior architectural design, the basic design tenet of our firm.”

Local Inspiration

Wilson Associates is currently designing 197 projects in 29 countries, and with its blend of experience and innovation, many of its projects are with repeat clients. Having designed the flagship Montage resort in Laguna Beach, Calif., the company was hired for Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, as well. 

Covering 15.6 acres, the resort offers true ski-in, ski-out access. The existing ski runs, however, limited the building placement, and height restrictions in the spa called for creativity in some areas with the designs and detailing of the ceilings, Wilson notes. Additionally, the design team had to create a residential element on top of the resort’s hotel, which led to some mechanical and structural challenges.

“The design brief was based upon the creation of a grand manor house in this majestic mountain setting, combined with influences from the local mining industry of the late 1800s,” Wilson explains. “The result is a sophisticated and active year-round resort equally inviting in the summer and winter seasons.”

More than ever before, clients are requesting “completely bespoken projects,” Wilson says. Clients want unique materials and a design theme that is distinctive and appropriate for the setting, so our firm makes use of local expertise and inspiration as much as possible.

“As designers, it is always of utmost importance to incorporate geographical flavor into each project by the use of local craftsman, artisans and artists,” she adds. “Sourcing locally is increasingly important, which causes challenges quite often, as the places we design do not always have industries that create authentic materials, etc.”

Support for South Africa

One of the key facets of Wilson Associates’ corporate culture is giving back to the community. Wilson stresses that she and her employees have been lucky to work on some of the “most beautiful and luxurious properties in the world,” and it’s sometimes easy to forget that not everyone in the world can have these same experiences. As a result, in 1997, Wilson launched The Wilson Foundation as a separate non-profit entity dedicated to addressing the needs of disadvantaged and underserved children. 

“We believe that no matter the state of the economy, we have a responsibility to give back to others,” she says. “It has been hard these past few years because our entire industry has felt the effects of the economic downturn, but just as we have maintained our commitment to the foundation, I am also very grateful for all the vendors and service providers in our industry who have continued to support the foundation through these challenging times.”

Most of the foundation’s work is focused in Limpopo Province in South Africa. Wilson fell in love with South Africa after working there on several hotel projects, including The Place of the Lost City. She decided to build a home there and chose the Limpopo Province for its “incredible beauty and natural resources.” She discovered, however, that the area is at the epicenter of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS pandemic, and there are many children in the region who or orphaned or at-risk with few options for education and employment. 

Since its inception, The Wilson Foundation has given more than $2.3 million to support a range of healthcare, education and youth development programs. For example, it has provided after-school homework assistance to children, established salaries for teachers, supported medical fellowship programs, launched programs for prevention of mother-to-child transmission and offered mentoring and counseling programs to teens.

“I have so many hopes and plans for the work we would like to do going forward,” Wilson stresses. “We have come so far in the areas of healthcare and education in the community we support. I would like to expand into skills development and job training, so the people there can learn to become more self-sufficient. Helping the people gain skills that will qualify them for a job, or helping them start their own businesses, is an important next step for The Wilson Foundation.”

Wilson Associates’ key vendors include Troy Wesnidge Inc.