Today, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts submitted designs for a revamped and restored Waldorf Astoria New York to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for review. Global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and Paris-based interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR) are leading the restoration. “We are at an exciting and transformative point in Waldorf Astoria’s renowned history, during which time Waldorf Astoria New York will be restored to its original grandeur while maintaining a modern and inspirational look and feel,” said John T. A. Vanderslice, global head, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, in a press release.
Earlier this month the LPC voted to designate several major interiors in the Waldorf Astoria as landmarks (the exterior was made a historic landmark in 1993.) The move to landmark these interiors came with the news that the Waldorf’s new owner, Anbang Insurance Group, aimed to renovate the hotel and convert up to 1,100 of its 1,413 rooms into private apartments and sell them as condominiums. The Chinese holding company originally purchased the hotel for $1.95 billion in 2014. “We have assembled a world-class design team with unparalleled experience restoring and revitalizing historic properties to create a proposed plan that treats the Waldorf Astoria New York’s history with respect and dedication to detail,” said Brandon Dong, Anbang Insurance Group, in a press release. “The restoration of the beautiful landmarked spaces is central to the Waldorf Astoria New York’s future as a New York City icon and global destination.”
SOM will be the design architect while PYR will serve as the interior designer of the hotel’s public areas and guest rooms. “Protecting the spirit of this iconic property and reflecting its history through a modern, more forward-thinking lens will be at the heart of the hotel’s interior design. From the overall atmosphere down to the finest Art Deco details, American grandeur and international glamour will meet in the Waldorf Astoria New York—no other hotel in New York will compare,” added Pierre-Yves Rochon, principal and global design director, PYR.
