(MIAMI BEACH) March 2, 2016 – One of Miami Beach’s most beloved, art-centric hotels, The Albion, owned by the Rubell Family, announced today that it recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation of its public spaces and guest rooms.

The hotel’s redo keeps it very much in the family, starting with interior designer Scott Sanders, who has designed homes for every member of the Rubell family during the last 17 years, in addition to designing the Rubells’ Lord Baltimore Hotel, their Capitol Skyline Hotel in Washington, D.C., and their much beloved and sorely missed Beach House Bal Harbour hotel.

Sanders, who created Ralph Lauren’s interior design department, has taken Igor Polevitsky’s original Albion nautical deco architecture from 1939 and outfitted it with sleek custom furnishings that reference ocean liners and private yachts. “I wanted to give it that feeling of nautical luxury,” says Sanders, “where you’re hanging around in a bathing suit but everything you see is crisp and elegant.”

The Rubells, best-known as founders of the Rubell Family Collection, one of the most significant museums of contemporary art in the country, have owned The Albion Hotel in Miami Beach for nearly 20 years. In that time, the hotel has been the understated home to many of the people who spearheaded the transformation of Miami into one of the cultural centers of the world. The first conversations about Art Basel starting a Miami fair happened on the poolside terrace. Countless meetings of international curators, artists, critics and collectors happened in and around the pool. Thomas Maier began designing clothing for Bottega Veneta from his private office at the hotel.

“It was like the Chelsea Hotel of Miami. People loved it, they knew the staff from the beginning, they had the room they stayed in every year, but it was getting more and more frayed, and then finally something had to be done!” says Mera Rubell, the very hands-on family member who personally oversaw the Albion’s recent renovation.

The artwork in the hotel comes from the Rubells’ personal collection, including a lobby installation of 85 works by legendary Miami outsider artist, Purvis Young, whose work can be found in the American Folk Art Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In the guest rooms, artist Sabrina Baron has created a series of works that explore the relationship between nautical flags and color field painting.

The Albion Hotel offers its guests amenities such as private beach access, a fitness center, pool, café offering breakfast and lunch, bar, valet parking, Wi-Fi and concierge service.

The Albion is located at 1650 James Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, 33139. Reservations can be made by calling 305.913.1000, or visiting online at reservations@rubellhotels.com.

ABOUT THE RUBELL FAMILY

The Rubell Family Collection is one of the world’s largest private family art collections open to the public and has been located in Miami, Florida for the last 20 years. Rubell Hotels, a family-owned business well known for transforming architecturally significant historic hotels into affordable cultural hubs, is the vision of owners Mera, Don, Jason and Jennifer Rubell – combining their love of art and architecture with a bright, modern feel. Rubell Hotel properties include the Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimoe; the Capitol Skyline Hotel, Washington, DC; and the Albion Hotel, Miami Beach.

ABOUT SCOTT SANDERS, Scott Sanders LLC

A graduate of Parsons School of Design, with a degree in Interior Design, Scott Sanders began his professional career at Ralph Lauren. He created the company’s Interior Design Department and, as design director, transformed the residences of Ralph Lauren clients in California, Florida, New York, Connecticut and Paris. His highly acclaimed renovation of the Beach House Bal Harbour Hotel for the Rubell family in Miami Beach during his last year with Ralph Lauren reflected Sanders’ now evident signature style and was a driving force in establishing Scott Sanders LLC, specializing in distinctive residential and commercial interiors for notable clients and properties. Over the years Sanders has developed his signature “New American Style,” the perfect blend of his all-American roots and the inspiration he takes from his extensive travels around the world. This style exudes a casual elegance that is approachable and familiar, yet sophisticated.