Highlights of the eight-month project included transforming five restaurants from “traditional eateries to destination-dining venues,” with a sushi/tapas bar added to one. New outdoor-terrace space was created to expand event-planning options, and the 35,000-sq. ft., “oasis-inspired” Spa & Fitness Center was refreshed.
The Polo Club of Boca Raton in Boca Raton, Fla. unveiled the results of its $27 million “re-imaging” at a Renovation Celebration held December 13 in its main clubhouse.
More than 2,500 Polo Club members participated in the festivities, which celebrated the finalization of a project that saw construction begin in April 2014. All socializing and gathering areas, five dining establishments and the Spa and Fitness Center, as well as the Golf Pro Shoppe and Resort and Tennis Shoppe, were redesigned and reconstructed to create a more open-air, fresher and modern aesthetic. Renovations also included a new grand staircase, new foyers, entranceways, staff offices and reception areas.
“This is a new beginning for Polo Club and was spearheaded by our member leadership and executive team, in an effort to deliver the type of luxury experience that our residents expect and deserve,” said Brett Morris, the Polo Club’s General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “We view this investment as more than a simple freshening. It is a complete re-branding and re-introduction of a vibrant, active, modern club, serving a social, connected community.”
“One thing that was important to impart was a fresher, younger look,” Morris added. “The people that we are trying to attract are 55-65, younger retirees, who want a complete lifestyle in Florida within a community that basically has it all. With ‘Polo’s’ dining destinations, lectures series, recreational amenities and world-class Spa and Fitness Center, it’s been said that living here is like being on ‘a cruise ship on land.’ ”
Special focus was given during the project to transforming the Polo Club’s five distinct restaurants from traditional eateries to destination-dining venues. For example, a unique sushi/tapas bar element was added to the Winners’ Circle restaurant. New outdoor terraces overlooking the pool and golf courses have expanded the club’s event-planning options.
Another highlight of the renovation is the refreshed oasis-inspired, 35,000-sq.-ft. Spa and Fitness Center. The Spa offers a full range of personal services in a five-star, resort-style setting, complete with a separate reception area; secluded, themed treatment rooms; and a full-service hair and beauty salon. Within the Fitness Center, members enjoy a comprehensive selection of athletic equipment—from cardio and weight machines to Pilates and Kinesis studios‑and one-on-one therapeutic services.
Image Design, an Atlanta-based firm, was challenged by Morris to create interiors that were distinctly “Polo,” with shimmering chandeliers, brightened tones and energetic combinations of texture and light. Moving away from the traditional and historic feel of dark woods and deep colors, Image Design incorporated clean lines and open spaces into Polo Club’s overall scheme.
Suffolk Construction, a Boston, Mass.-based general contractor, provided reconstruction and construction management for renovations of the Spa and the 150,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse, completing the project 12 months ahead of schedule and under budget, Morris said. The scope of Suffolk’s work included demolition, exterior upgrades and expansion of the building’s footprint. Additionally, Suffolk oversaw interior upgrades, which included painting, custom millwork, granite countertops, custom carpeting and imported stone and porcelain tile installation.
“What we’ve been able to accomplish in just a few short months is truly amazing,” said Stanley Goldberg, President of the Polo Club’s President Board of Governors. ”I know our members will look at this renovation and say to themselves [that] here at ‘Polo,’ we truly have it all.”
The Polo Club of Boca Raton is located on 1,100 in Palm Beach County, Fla., seven miles from downtown Boca Raton. The community includes over 1,700 homes. Recreational facilities at The Polo Club included two championship golf courses and a nationally recognized tennis facility with 27 Har-Tru courts.
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