On February 25, 2009, Hotel Hospitality News (
visit link) reported the following:
"The 912 room New Yorker Hotel Completes Massive
18-month, $70 million Renovation
NEW YORK, NY (Feb. 25, 2009) - Eighty years after first breaking ground in 1929, The New Yorker Hotel (http://www.NewYorkerHotel.com) has greeted the new year with a renewed spirit and fresh style following the completion of a massive 18-month, $70 million renovation.
Celebrating the re-launch of the legendary hotel in 2009, The New Yorker Hotel plans to welcome back past guests and introduce new friends to experience its rich, historic past while offering a revived, modern look and enhanced services. One aspect that will forever remain unchanged, however, is the first-class service for which the hotel as always been renowned.
The design concept is the exotic and glamorous New York/Hollywood art deco style of the 1930's, as a nod to the hotel's past, but with a distinctive modern edge. NYC-based Stonehill & Taylor (http://www.stonehilltaylor.com) was tapped to conduct the project with art-deco-inspired contemporary interiors featuring geometric patterns, skyscraper-style case goods (such as bookcases and desks), customized lighting, and high-contrast gold and silver against dark zebra wood and chocolate upholsteries.
The scope of the renovation was extensive, evident by the magnificence of the finished product. Highlights of the renovation project include:
? Increased Room Inventory - Prior to the renovation The New Yorker Hotel had 860 hotel rooms. The hotel now features 912 guest rooms (64 of which are suites), all re-styled and remodeled, located on the top 21 floors of the building - floors 19 to 40 (the first 18 floors are dedicated to commercial tenants). Through the renovation process, 80 of the smaller rooms were converted into 40 rooms because of market demand for rooms with double-double configurations. The increase in the overall room count post-renovation is due to the fact that several floors housing commercial tenants were re-converted to hotel guest floors.
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? New Rooms, New Style - The renovation included a total overhaul of furniture, carpets, wallpaper and fixtures in both the guest rooms and hallways on all guest floors. Restoring the hotel to its former glory, Stonehill & Taylor's design replaced floral carpets and quilted bedspreads with art-deco-inspired interiors featuring geometric patterns. Updated lighting has been introduced in the form of brushed stainless steel torchieres with mica shades and dome-topped, pull-chain desk lamps. Overhead lighting is provided by a custom-designed, six-point star to create a Hollywood search-lights effect in beams along the ceiling. Creating a feeling of luxury, walls with two windows are fully covered with shimmering draperies, and a geometric-patterned carpet subtly echoes the upholstered diamond-stitched headboard.
The New Yorker Hotel features 912 guest rooms - all re-styled and re-modeled.
? Guest Bathrooms - New tapered pedestal sinks and arched shower curtains add curvature to the space, while custom mirror and glass shelf assemblies make the room more functional. A panel of back-painted glass updates the previous period wall tile, while chrome-finish faucets and fittings bring the details of the room into a contemporary style.
? New Heating/Cooling System - A major aspect of the renovation project was the installation of the new four-pipe, HVAC system throughout the entire hotel. This new, truly state-of-the-art system allows guests to control both the heat and the air-conditioning all year long, a feature not found in many hotels."