ATHENS, GA— Rialto Property Partners, LLC and Melaver, Inc. have begun development on a 130-room Hotel Indigo here. The building is expected to be among the first hotels in the world to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Hotel Indigo Athens is located five blocks from the University of Georgia Campus and is expected to open by the fall of 2009. The hotel will offer residential-inspired guestrooms with spa-style showers as well as an art gallery, garden lounge and a 3,000-square-foot presidential suite.

To achieve LEED certification, the Hotel Indigo Athens will have sustainable elements such as a dedicated green roof, green pavement systems, an on-site public transportation stop and priority parking for hybrid cars.