Aspiration & Achievement
The River Tower elevates guest experience by subtly reflecting and celebrating elements of tribal heritage that represent community traditions, celebrate today, and support future success.
“I’m proud of how our whole team unified and came together to deliver this project on an aggressive schedule that reached beyond the basic project requirements to create a truly special place.”
Dan Snook
Senior Associate | Project Manager
“As a tribe, we want to keep evolving. We are proud of being something that attracts people to this community.”
Phil Haugen
CEO of Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority
PROJECT DETAILS
ntxwetkw | River Tower
The Kalispel Tribe has a rich history, with the Pend Oreille River and its fishing as an enduring heart of their traditional lifeways. Listening to the tribe’s heritage and personal stories inspired the design of this exceptional hotel featuring layered components of cultural significance and tribal identity. Every design decision supports guest experience and connects to the tribe’s culture and place. The hotel’s undulating form evokes a traditional river weir structure, a traditional fishing system made of log pylons and woven brush crossing through a river to snare fish. These communal weirs were hospitable gathering places where tribes would meet to fish, trade, and celebrate.
The new hotel proudly expresses this heritage of hospitality as inspiration for creating a new place to gather and welcome visitors. Weaving through the landscape like a weir across a river, the hotel references these traditional gathering places. Its warm, welcoming environment balances tribal elements with contemporary refinement. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a spectacular two-story illuminated wall of a fishing scene created from historical photography. Interior spaces are grounded in earthy colors and organic textures, with views of the surrounding landscape from dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows at every turn. The pattern of the hallway carpet features stylized script inspired by the Salish language bordered by a running landscape of a distant mountain range. Every room features artwork created by tribal members.
Throughout the grounds, wayfinding pylons emulate the logging piers found along the Pend Oreille River and guide visitors through the landscape of pine and aspen groves, basalt talus, grasses, and rain gardens. The structure of the skywalk references the bridge which crosses into the Kalispel Reservation, a tribal touchpoint symbolizing coming home.
This standout hotel celebrates hospitality, pride of heritage and contributes to tribal economic success for a promising future.
