OUR HISTORY
Looking Back at 49 Years of Excellence in Hospitality Design
1975
Rabun & Partners Founded
After graduating from Auburn University in 1969 and working at Jova Daniels Busby from 1971-1975, Joe Rabun forms Rabun & Partners Architects, with offices located at Piedmont Center.
1979
Mobile Hilton
Rabun completes its first hospitality commission, the Hilton in Mobile, Alabama. Now a Marriott, this design epitomizes the brutalist style of the 1960s and 70s.
1979
Rabun Whatley Hatch
Rod Whatley and Ted Hatch are promoted to firm principals.
1980
First AIA Award
Rabun is presented with the AIA Honor Award for the design of the Northside Post Office in Atlanta, Georgia.
1981
Rabun Hatch
Rabun re-brands as Rabun Hatch.
1981
Rabun Joins IACC
Rabun becomes the official Architecture and Design consultant of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), providing members with insight and guidance on the evaluation of meeting space and conference hotels.
1983
Rabun Hatch Portman McWhorter Hatch & Rauh
Greg Portman, Glen McWhorter, Helen Hatch, and Richard Rauh are promoted to firm principals.
1984
Second AIA Award
Rabun is presented with the AIA Award for Excellence in Architecture for renovations to the Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1985
Rabun Hatch Portman McWhorter
Rabun re-brands as Rabun Hatch Portman McWhorter.
1985
Inter-Continental Hilton Head
Rabun designs the prestigious Inter-Continental in Hilton Head, South Carolina (now the Westin). This project garnered numerous awards, including the 1985 AIA Award for Excellence in Architecture and the 1986 Restaurant & Hotel Design "Best Hotel" Award.
1986
Brookwood Exchange Office
Rabun moves from Piedmont Center to The Brookwood Exchange Building at 1708 Peachtree Street in Atlanta.
1988
North Hampton
Rabun takes on its first multi-family commission - the North Hampton Condominiums in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This striking project was designed to provide every unit with stunning views, making it an instant real-estate success.
1990
Peachtree Midtown Office
Rabun relocates from the Piedmont Center Office to 805 Peachtree Street. This building currently serves as an iconic Midtown condominium property.
1991
Westin Buckhead
Opened as the Swissotel, the Westin Buckhead has become a local icon for many Atlanta residents. In 1992, Rabun received the NAHB Award of Excellence for the design of this hotel.
1991
Conference Center Planning and Design
Joe Rabun contributed his vast knowledge of hospitality and conference center design to Richard H. Penner's Conference Center Planning and Design: "A Guide for Architects, Designers, Meeting Planners and Facility Managers" published by Clean Earth Books.
1992
Four Seasons Atlanta
Originally flagged as the Occidental Grand Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences in Midtown, Atlanta, becomes the first 5-Star hotel in the city, marking a turning point for the Capital of the South. This is also the first Rabun project to utilize Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in its development.
1995
The Classic Center
Branching out beyond hospitality, Rabun designs The Classic Center, a large performing arts and convention facility in downtown Athens, Georgia. The entire complex is sensitively organized around the Historic Firehall No. 1, which has been preserved and renovated into the premier meeting space of the facility.
1996
Hilton Garden Inn Prototype
Rabun worked directly with Hilton Hotels to develop the first Limited-Service branded Hilton product, the Hilton Garden Inn. Widely regarded as one of Hilton's most successful brands, over 40 of these hotels would be designed by Rabun Architects.
1996
Emory Hotel & Conference Center
Working with Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Rabun was commissioned to design the Emory Hotel & Conference Center, located within the virgin woodlands adjacent to the University. Public amenities were strategically organized to capture the natural beauty of the surroundings, providing a beautiful and relaxing experience for visitors.
1998
Grant Building Office
Rabun relocates from Midtown to the historic Grant Building at 44 Broad Street in Downtown Atlanta.
1999
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Chicago
One of the most unique Hilton Garden Inn properties, this downtown Chicago hotel was designed to fit seamlessly into its urban environment.
2000
Nashville Hilton
Rabun helps the city of Nashville, Tennessee, welcome visitors with the design of the iconic downtown Hilton.
2000
First ABC Award
Rabun receives the Associated Builders & Contractors Award for the design and construction of the Hilton Hotel at Easton in Columbus, Ohio.
2001
The Chattanoogan
Designed with meetings in mind, The Chattanoogan opens as the first IACC-Certified hotel in the world.
2002
Southern Pines Conference Center
With Rabun’s extensive conference center experience, the firm helped Callaway Gardens open the Southern Pine Conference Center. This IACC certified project was also the first LEED certified conference center in the country, and Georgia’s second LEED certified project of any type.
2005
Washington Duke Inn
Following Rabun's original 1987 design work, Rabun completed the renovations and additions to the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club at Duke University. With a challenging operational timeline, Rabun designed the renovation to allow the hotel to remain open during the construction process.
2009
St. Regis Buckhead
Following the success of the Four Seasons project in Midtown, Rabun is commissioned to design the iconic St. Regis Buckhead Hotel & Residences in Atlanta, Georgia. This project would go on to win numerous accolades, including a finalist position in the 2010 Hospitality Design Awards, and quickly became Atlanta's premiere residential address, with the Penthouse unit fetching an unprecedented $15.9 million asking price in 2020.
2012
Westin Birmingham
Working alongside the City of Birmingham, Alabama, Rabun is commissioned to design the Westin Hotel and adjoining connections to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
2015
Charlotte Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites
The completion of the Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites in Charlotte, North Carolina marks the first Rabun project to be completed entirely in 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. All subsequent Rabun projects would be fully designed and documented utilizing this technology.
2016
J.B. Duke Hotel
Rabun continues its relationship with Duke University by completing the design and construction of the J.B. Duke Hotel. This includes the renovation of the existing R. David Thomas Center at the Fuqua School of Business.
2018
Rabun Architects
The firm recognizes its long-standing founder, Joe Rabun, by re-branding as Rabun Architects.
2018
Coastal States Office
Rabun relocates to its present office in the Coastal States building at 260 Peachtree Street in Atlanta.
2018
Hilton Legacy Award
Rabun receives the 2018 Hilton Legacy Award for North American New Build of the Year for the Hilton Franklin Cool Springs. The project also garnered the 2019 Associated Builders & Contractors Award.
2018
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
After the 2010 BP oil-spill event, Rabun worked with the State of Alabama on The Lodge at Gulf State Park, an environmentally-sensitive project which achieved LEED Gold, SITES Platinum, and FORTIFIED Commercial Certification in 2018.
2019
Hilton Legacy Award
Nearly 20 years after completing the iconic downtown Nashville Hilton, Rabun receives the 2019 Hilton Legacy Award for North American New Build of the Year for the Hilton Nashville Green Hills.
2019
Lexington City Center
After more than a decade in the making, the 218-room City Center Marriott Hotel, the 119-room Residence Inn, offices, and luxury condominiums opened for guests and visitors alike the weekend before Christmas. The project has a dramatic impact on the urban fabric of Lexington, covering an entire city block.
