Kirkland's Heathman Hotel to Reopen Aug. 3 After Repairs

Closed since suffering catastrophic water damage from a burst pipe last May, downtown Kirkland’s luxury will reopen on Aug. 3, says sales and marketing director Belinda Jensen.

The hotel will reopen its guest rooms and on Aug. 3, but a new expanded fitness center, new meeting space for luncheons and corporate functions and an intimate dining room with an adjoining larger event space will open at the end of August, she said.

The hotel has decided not to reopen its Penterra Spa.

The Heathman hired the original designers, contractors and architects of the hotel, which opened on the corner of Kirkland Avenue and 3rd Street downtown in 2007, to redesign and renovate the structure.

"We're really excited about it," said Les Utley, Heathman general manager. "It's going to play to our strengths and allow the chef (Brian Scheesher) to do some some fun things. The meeting room will give us a chance to grow in certain areas."

The Heathman last winter was by the travel website TripAdvisor. As , the water line break caused extensive damage to the hotel’s first floor, including and the spa, as well as the floor below, which hosts the hotel ballroom.

While it meant no business for some two months during the peak season, the closure also allowed the Heathman to make some needed upgrades as well as the redesign, said Utley.

"This was an opportunity to make a silver lining out of that calamity," he said. "Our owners are really committed to the hotel and the community."