It was essential that the Hotel Indigo reflect the culture, character and geography of the surrounding area. The architecture and design of the project was also influenced by the client base the hotel is catering to. These clients are a little more sensitive to design and more savvy than the average traveler, and are becoming more concerned with sustainability issues.

The $60 million twelve-story building contains 170,000 square feet and 210 guest rooms, including five suites, all rooms with comfortable beds and plush bedding, hard surface flooring with area rugs for a fresh residential feel, and spa-inspired showers.

The architecture firm Joseph Wong Design Associates of San Diego designed Hotel Indigo San Diego as a model of sustainability. The new hotel offers travelers eco-conscious lodging in San Diego's urban Gaslamp District. This property is the first Hotel Indigo, and also the first hotel in San Diego, to be LEED certified. The flagship property will showcase the brand's upscale boutique positioning through its locally inspired fresh design, providing an engaging and intimate guest experience.

The hotel's stylish, inviting design is inspired by the proportions of the Golden Mean, mathematical proportions which appear constantly in nature. These proportions, or Fibonacci sequence, were utilized throughout the hotel. Examples of these “divine proportions” can be seen in the mosaic tile ‘swoosh’ that transcends across the lobby floor. This swoosh fits the long curve of the nautilus shell, which is the Hotel Indigo logo. The sheetrock soffit directly above the mosaic swoosh follows the same proportions and coincides with the mosaic inlay pattern below.

Part of Design Direction's concept was to bring the outside in. The hotel interior uses trees, shells, and a variety of natural icons, furthering Hotel Indigo's theme of harmony within nature. The state flower of California, the orange-hued California poppy, blues and off-white creamy sand from the nearby ocean, were the designers' inspiration for the color palette. The spherically shaped lobby lighting fixtures represent bubbles frothing in the ocean waves. The water feature, using recycled water, evokes a soothing, inspirational, airy and inviting feel. Modern, fun, inviting and inclusive approaches to design and furniture selections were implemented. This has created a very welcoming feeling. The new hotel is already becoming the neighborhood place to be.

One of the important aspects of the project was involving the local art community. This effort was coordinated by the design team. More than $300,000 was invested in the local arts community.

The hotel incorporated a variety of green building materials, including a 3800 square foot living roof, which will filter pollutants from runoff to prevent them from entering the city's storm drains. IHG chose the location of the Hotel Indigo San Diego in part because of the goal to achieve LEED certification for the project. Points were gained toward certification by demolishing several run down one story buildings on the site and recycling the materials. About 87% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill. Ten percent recycled materials were used in construction. Sustainable interior materials include:

• Corridor carpet and guest room area rugs made partially from recycled materials
• Bedding fabrics containing recycled materials
• Low VOC paints used throughout
• Murals from local photographer Ian Cumming were printed on a recycled base
• Bamboo ceiling tiles in meeting rooms and in the phitness studio
• Terrace decking made of recycled grocery bags and wood fiber products of furniture and cabinet making.
• Crushed porcelain flooring was used throughout the lobby
• Doors from NanaWall Systems allow air ventilation and natural light on first floor public areas and the ninth floor Phi Bar Terrace. These folding floor-to-ceiling doors allow for daylighting and views for a connection between the indoor spaces and the outdoor environment.
• 90% of lighting systems have individual controls, allowing occupants to adjust the level of lighting to suit individual tasks