S6. | E14. Hotel Marcel | New Haven, Connecticut | Bruce Becker Is Making History With America’s First 100% Electric Hotel Operating Free Of Fossil Fuels

“It's sort of the same thing that happened with electric cars. Early on, the electric cars were seen as slower and less sophisticated. And now, the most beautiful Porsches, BMWs, Audis and Teslas, they're all electric. And so we're trying to do something similar for hotels to show that  you can offer hospitality for the planet and actually offer better comfort and experience for your guests.”

We’re in great company with Bruce Becker, the Owner, Architect and Developer of Hotel Marcel, a Brutalist-style architectural landmark reimagined for the eco-obsessed modern traveler, conceived as a dramatic gateway to New Haven with its Bauhaus-inspired design, artfully detailed interiors, and climate-first credo. 

Today, Hotel Marcel is making history as the country’s first 100% electric hotel operating free of fossil fuels - a true model for sustainability within the hospitality industry, deserving of its numerous awards, accolades and admirers. 

In this episode, Bruce shares how his humble approach, having never opened a hotel before, started with first principles and resulted in a beautiful beacon for other hotels to emulate, attracting sustainably-minded and artistically-driven guests to visit. 

Top Takeaways

[1:45] “I always felt that architects' best work is often their own house or their mother's house.” says Bruce as he shares his story that led him to go beyond his architect and developer titles. 

[4:50] The story of Hotel Marcel begins in 1968 as a symbol of progress and hope for the city of New Haven and ends as a symbol of decline and abandonment…that is until Bruce discovered he could purchase it in 2019.

[10:00] There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the design and details of the hotel and Bruce gives us both a history and sustainability lesson as to why. 

[16:45] There are 2 principles when it comes to Hotel Marcel today - The Brutalist architecture and Bauhaus design of ‘less is more’ and the commitment to being free of fossil fuels and instead all-electric. 

[25:35] Dine in good company at BLDG, where Chef Megan is “blending architecture, cuisine, and cocktails together in perfect balance,” and seek art in good company with Bruce’s wife, artist Kraemer Sims Becker responsible for the creation and curation of the collections seen throughout.       

[33:30] When you come to New Haven, Connecticut there are three things you are bound to see - pizza, art and architecture. 

[38:40] Do you have a tendency of sleeping through your alarm? Hotel Marcel has a clever Climate Wake Up Call that is sure to get you thinking on your feet!

Notable Mentions

• “The Harvard Five” Architects: Marcel Breuer, John M. Johansen, Landis Gores, Philip Johnson, Eliot Noyes
• Sally’s Apizza
• Pepe’s Pizzeria
• Farmington Canal Heritage Trail
• Yale Peabody Museum
• Yale University Art Gallery
• Yale Center for British Art
• Long Wharf Theatre
• room2 hometel in Chiswick, London
• The Sinclair Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas 

Visit For Yourself

• Hotel Marcel Website
• @hotel_marcel_newhaven