American just opened a stunning new Admirals Club lounge in DC that is designed to make travelers feel like they're at home see inside

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• American Airlines has unveiled its newest Admirals Club lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
• The space has a huge fireplace, a VIP room, a bar and buffet, and seating for up to 236 people.

American Airlines unveiled its brand new Admirals Club at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday.

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The stunning 14,500-square-foot lounge is the airport's largest and is an upgrade from previous versions of the Admirals Club.

Many of the seats were designed to look like a suitcase.      American Airlines

The carrier's old Club design is nice, but lacks some of the warm, welcoming details in the new one, which is more rustic and homey.

The carrier's old Club design.      American Airlines

Source: American Airlines

Jonathan Yip, American's senior manager for ground and lounge products, told Insider the airline created a new vision for the Club because people have different priorities for travel post-pandemic.

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"What we've seen is people prioritize wellness," he said. "So, we've brought in new ideas to create this new, different sense of place, allowing guests to relax not just through the meal offerings but throughout the entire design."

The dining area inside the lounge.      American Airlines

Some of those wellness designs include special mood lighting that adjusts based on the astronomical clock and acoustic levels that reduce noise.

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The reimagined design enhances the luxury of the space to make travelers feel like they're at home, according to American's managing director of premium customer experience & onboard products, Clarissa Sebastian.

The living area of the lounge.      American Airlines

Dwayne MacEwen, founder of DMAC Architecture & Interiors — the company designing the lounge — explained to Insider that the Club is intuitive, so guests know where to go their first time in.

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"We tried to eliminate as much wayfinding as possible so that the materials and finishes are signifiers of where to go," MacEwen said. "Whether you're in Austin or DC, we put these visual breadcrumbs in so people will just get it."

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However, each lounge, three more of which are being built in Austin, Newark, and Denver, will have different designs to signify which city they are in. For example, the DC Club has images of historic figures on the walls…

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…hanging lamps that read part of President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address…

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…and murals depicting national monuments, among other location-specific touches.

American's emblem is also scattered throughout.      American Airlines

Gill Sukhtej, American's manager of lounge product and design, said that although MacEwen's company did not have much work in aviation, he wanted a "fresh set of eyes" on the redesign.

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"They brought in storytelling and that expertise in the customer experience to make an emotional connection with guests," he explained.

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To enter the 236-seat lounge, guests will climb a stone staircase, which is a nod to places like the Washington Monument and the National Archives, truly radiating the DC location.

MacEwen said the entry is imagined to be carved out of a piece of stone.      American Airlines

There is also an elevator with a beautiful cherry blossom background that travelers can use.

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Welcoming customers inside the Club is a large reception area with a check-in desk and a beautiful wood backdrop.

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The rustic feel is welcoming, and the soft colors will make travelers feel comfortable and cozy in the lounge.

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Guests will see that there are several large spaces inside the Club, each with unique touches and luxury amenities. One is a large dining area complete with a bar...

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...a large buffet...

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…several tables, many of which can be combined to accommodate multiple people or smaller ones for families and couples...

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...and a line of booths for more privacy when working or dining.

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There are also nice finishes, like ball-shaped lamps that fall from the wood ceiling and comforting shades of grey and brown throughout.

The dining area inside the lounge.      American Airlines

According to American, natural materials are intended to give travelers a sense of being outside and contribute to the "wellness" atmosphere.

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There is a second large area in the lounge that looks almost like a living room, complete with a large fireplace surrounded by couches…

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…different seating options, like elevated reclining chairs with side tables inspired by the Martin Luther King Jr. monument...

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…and a wood ceiling with a calming chandelier.

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There are barriers that surround the fireplace to separate the space into several living areas, where the home-like feel continues to resonate.

The carpet depicts an abstract map of Washington DC and cherry blossoms, with hues of blue for American's color scheme, according to the carrier.      American Airlines

One of the areas includes giant, circular loungers that overlook the ramp.

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Other spaces in the Club include a VIP room, which was inspired by the Liberty of Congress, for dignitaries or federal representatives flying on American…

The VIP room is conveniently located behind the check-in desk.      American Airlines

…and large bathrooms with earth tones that feel more like a cottage than an airport lounge.

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The bathroom doors connect all the way from the ceiling to the floor, giving guests even more privacy.

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All the little touches, like American's signature emblem and DC monuments, truly make the Club unique, and different from competing carrier lounges.

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“Each element was thoughtfully developed to create an environment of calm, with natural woods and open spaces, so our customers can relax and feel their best as they prepare for their flight,” Sebastian said.

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