HOTEL MARCEL

Long before it became a hotel, the former headquarters of the Armstrong Rubber Company (also known as the Pirelli building) was already an icon. The Brutalist office building was designed in the ‘60s by legendary architect Marcel Breuer. Converted into a hotel in 2022, the property’s architecture is only part of its allure: Hotel Marcel is the first net-zero, fossil fuel-free, and Passive House-certified hotel in the United States. Powered by on-site solar panels and earning LEED Platinum certification, Hotel Marcel stands as a preservation success story and a blueprint for the next generation of sustainable hotels.

WHERE: Hotel Marcel is located two miles from Yale’s campus in New Haven’s Long Wharf district. The location is more practical than picturesque—in a commercial zone next to an Ikea—but its proximity to Interstate 95 and local attractions make it an excellent base for exploring the city. To help cut your carbon footprint while you get around, the hotel offers a complimentary all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 car service within a five-mile radius.

WHY WE WANT TO BOOK IT: Staying inside a storied Brutalist landmark is reason enough to book. Designed by famed Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer (of Manhattan’s Breuer Building and the iconic Wassily chair), this ‘60s office building-turned-hotel has thoughtfully been given a second life as America’s first fully electric, zero-emission hotel. A triumph in sustainability, the property is powered by on-site solar panels and is the first net-zero, fossil-fuel-free, and Passive House-certified hotel in the United States. History and environmental accolades aside, it’s also immaculately clean, sleek, and doesn’t feel overtly corporate. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Hotel Marcel’s modernist appeal works year-round. That said, fall is New Haven at its best. If you can time your trip for peak foliage season, be sure to get to East Rock Park.

WHAT ROOM SHOULD I BOOK? Hotel Marcel has 165 rooms in total, which includes 11 suites. For the best view on a budget, book a corner king room with a view of the New Haven harbor and the Yale skyline. 

WHAT ELSE IS CALLING MY NAME? Hotel Marcel houses BLDG, an aptly named restaurant and bar, that carries the hotel’s sustainability-minded approach by focusing on locally sourced ingredients, operating an all-electric kitchen, and donating all surplus food to a local non-profit. The hotel also boasts a 24/7 fitness center, more than 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and 12 universal Level 2 chargers and 12 Tesla Superchargers, powered by the hotel’s on-site solar.

WHO WILL FEEL AT HOME HERE? Architecture nerds, design aficionados, and sustainability-minded travelers converge at Hotel Marcel. Families, roadtrippers, scholarly types seeking accommodations near Yale, and corporate business travelers all fit in too.

WHAT ARE HOTEL MARCEL’S RATES? As of August 2026, rates start at $228 per night.

Hotel Marcel 

500 Sargent Drive, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 | (203) 780-7800

Book directly for the best rates and promotions: hotelmarcel.com

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Why do architecture lovers stay at Hotel Marcel?

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Marcel Breuer’s 1968 landmark office building for the Armstrong Rubber Company is an icon. Considered one of Breuer’s most important late-career works, the building is defined by its dramatic suspended form with upper floors appear to float above an open ground level. 

A leading figure of the Bauhaus movement, Breuer famously believed that good design should balance beauty and function—a philosophy that Hotel Marcel puts on full display. Today, the Pirelli Building (as it’s sometimes called) stands as one of New England’s most significant examples of Brutalist architecture.

Is Hotel Marcel a fully electric, zero-emission hotel? Does it have EV charging?

Yes. Hotel Marcel is one of the most EV-friendly and sustainable hotels in Connecticut and the United States. The property is both LEED Platinum certified and the first Passive House-certified hotel in the country, all while operating as an all-electric, fossil fuel-free hotel with on-site EV charging for guests, including Tesla chargers. 

What is a Passive House certification, and why does this matter?

The gold standard for energy-efficient buildings, Passive House certification is an internationally recognized building standard that requires exceptional insulation, airtight construction, and smart design to minimize energy use while keeping indoor temperatures consistently comfortable. Hotel Marcel is the first hotel in the United States to earn the certification. 

Good news for travelers: the benefits of staying in a Passive House-certified building aren’t just environmental. Passive House buildings tend to be quieter with excellent sound insulation and have a consistently more comfortable indoor climate with continuously filtered air. 

How close is Hotel Marcel to Yale? Can you get to downtown New Haven and Yale from Hotel Marcel without a car? 

Hotel Marcel is located two miles from Yale in New Haven’s Long Wharf district, just off Interstate 95. If you’re traveling without a car, Hotel Marcel offers a complimentary all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 car service for guests to get around within a five-mile radius of the hotel—which includes Yale University, downtown New Haven, Tweed New Haven Airport, and Union Station.

Is Hotel Marcel a design hotel? What are the interiors like? 

Hotel Marcel is a design boutique destination under Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. The interiors are warm and personal, honoring the building’s history through repurposed 1960s light fixtures, custom furnishings that echo Breuer’s Bauhaus work, and a curated artwork collection from local and emerging artists.

Is the restaurant at Hotel Marcel (BLDG) sustainable? 

Absolutely. Like the rest of the hotel, sustainability takes center stage at BLDG. The menu leans on locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. BLDG’s behind-the-scenes sustainability efforts are also noteworthy: an all-electric kitchen, food composting, and donations of surplus meals to a local nonprofit are all part of the day-to-day operation.