SEATTLE (AP) — Alex Calderwood, the Seattle co-founder of the hip Ace Hotel chain, has died in London at age 47.
His company, Atelier Ace, said on its website that he passed away Thursday but released no information about the cause. The statement calls Calderwood "our teacher, mentor, guru and most importantly our dear friend."
In 1999, he and two friends launched Seattle's Ace Hotel in a flophouse that formerly served maritime workers. It's renowned for its much-imitated style, with vintage and repurposed furniture, record players and guestroom art by Shepard Fairey — who later became famous for creating the "HOPE" poster that came to symbolize Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
Ace Hotels later opened in Portland, Ore.; New York; Palm Springs, Calif.; and London, with others scheduled to open late this year or early next year in Panama City, Panama, and Los Angeles. Ace describes itself on its website as "a collection of individuals — multiple and inclusive, held together by an affinity for the soulful."