The 21c Museum Hotels, currently with three US locations, is expanding in the coming years with new properties in Oklahoma City and Nashville in the pipeline, both of which will have spas.

The innovative 21c Museum Hotel concept includes incorporating a modern art gallery into each location, and the spas continue that experience. At the 1,029sq ft (96sq m) Cincinnati location, for instance, guests to the spa are greeted by a site-specific installation by artist Ryan Wolfe called ‘Field of Grass,’ which spreads across the stairway wall leading up to the spa. Blades of grass are activated by wind data, and viewers can watch as a gust of air moves across the entire installation.

“The piece transforms the space, creating an instant feeling of relaxation as a gust of air moves across blades of grass,” said spa manager Natasha Burns.

The Cincinnati location has been open since 2012, and the Durham property, where the spa is located in the historic bank vault, opened in March 2015. Oklahoma City is expected to open in Q2 2016, and Nashville in early 2017, both with spas. Spa details are not yet available, but they will each include two couples' spa suites with en-suite showers.

Designed by Deborah Berke Partners, each spa has its own unique style but similar sensibilities. The spas are managed in-house, and all use Malin + Goetz products. Other product houses, which vary by location, include ReVive, Tasha + Co, and Sparitual.

The 21C Museum Hotels have made a point of opening in smaller, sometimes untapped US cities like Louisville or Cincinnati.

“We pursue opportunities where 21c can build upon a rich cultural foundation in a city or neighbourhood and act as a catalyst for further development and revitalisation of those areas,” said SVP of design and communications Molly Swyers. “Because our galleries are open to the public free of charge 365 days a year, our properties serve as important community centres for both visitors and locals alike.”