With renovations set to begin July 2006, the St. Andrews Grand at the Old Course will be reminiscent of the historic Grand Hotel, today known as Hamilton Hall and a hall of residence for the city’s university.
Wasserman Real Estate Capital, LLC is developing 23 luxury residences like none other in the world, the only residence enclave on the 18th green of St. Andrews. Membership of the St. Andrews Grand, which is being marketed as ‘the most exclusive residence offering-through-membership in the UK’, can be obtained through invitation only to 115 families and individuals worldwide.
“The St. Andrews Grand is golf’s new home in an historic signature destination for the most elite and dedicated of golfers and sportsmen who understand the spiritual depth and are deeply appreciative of the mindset, the game and the experience of St. Andrews,” stated David Wasserman, principal of Wasserman Real Estate Capital LLC.
The building, like many buildings overlooking the Old Course, has its own identity and history. As the Grand Hotel it was completed in 1895 and viewed as the pinnacle of luxury at St. Andrews and around the world. Scottish architect James Monro designed the hotel, which was an unheard of six stories high. It was built with red Dumfries stone and remained the symbol of great luxury and elegance for many years, throughout the First World War and into the Second.
In World War II the hotel was transformed into RAF training headquarters and it was slow to recover its luxury reputation after the war. In 1949 the University at St. Andrews acquired the property and converted it into Hamilton Hall, named in honour of the Duke of Hamilton. There were no significant exterior changes until the 1970s, when the famous lead dome was damaged by fire and replaced by fibreglass.
Once renovations are complete, the St. Andrews Grand will offer amazing views of the St Andrews Links and the sea. The unique loft-style residences will have contemporary elements such as gourmet kitchens, state-of-the-art appliances, luxury bathrooms, and privacy zones to accommodate guest quarters. In addition to the private residences, the St. Andrews Grand will have a club room, a private dining room and a pub for residence owners only.
Wasserman has enlisted an international team of architects, historians, designers and marketers for the project: Hurd Rolland Partnership is a Scottish architectural group with extensive experience in melding Scotland’s historic conservation with new ideas and materials; Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh is an award winning Santa Monica based firm of architects, who will manage the designing and planning of the building conversion, and Randall Ridless LLC is an interior design firm and architectural-history specialist from New York. PRC Innovations, LLC, an exclusive sector of the Private Residence Club Industry, will handle the sales and marketing of the St. Andrews Grand.
“This team provides the breadth and experience necessary to return the legacy and lustre of this 110-year old structure to its grand historical state.” concluded Wasserman. Members of St. Andrews Grand will enjoy the highest level of personal service including a full time, on-site concierge, daily housekeeping service, a spa and health centre, pre-arrival grocery service, golf valets and bellmen, personal storage along with personal drivers, and a private chef service upon request.
St Andrews Grand www.standrewsgrand.com
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