Irvine Firm Wins Contract to Design Russia Hotel Complex

CYP International, an architectural and planning firm, said Thursday it has won a contract to design a $100-million hotel and apartment complex in downtown St. Petersburg, Russia.

The eight-story Hotel Rafael will blend with the “unique historic architecture” in St. Petersburg’s city center, said Donald R. Corbin, CYP’s chairman. The 350,000-square-foot structure will consist of 150 guest rooms on the first four floors and one- to three-bedroom apartments on the top four floors, he said.

The hotel, a joint venture by two British companies, will be near the famous Maryinsky Theatre, which is home to the Kirov Ballet.

CYP must move quickly to draw the plans because construction is scheduled to begin late this year. IHS Hawaii Inc. will provide materials and supplies for the hotel, and a Finnish company will build it.

CYP has projects across California, Mexico, Europe and Asia, including the redesign of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.