Global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has completed a comprehensive restoration of the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel in Midtown Manhattan, marking the end of an eight-year preservation project aimed at bridging the gap between past and future. The legendary Art Deco hotel reopened earlier this year following extensive work on its landmarked 1931 building, originally designed by Schultze & Weaver.
The massive undertaking involved a complete transformation of the 1.6 million-square-foot building from a traditional 1,400-room hotel into a mixed-use destination. The renovated structure now houses 375 hotel rooms on floors seven through 15 of the 625-foot-tall building, while floors 19 and above accommodate 372 private residences. SOM's comprehensive makeover required returning to the original blueprints and faithfully restoring architectural details that had been gradually altered over the decades.
The restoration team conducted extensive research to ensure historical accuracy in their work. "We delved into the records of the hotel and the archives of The Wolfsonian, which holds thousands of documents produced by Schultze & Weaver at Florida International University," SOM explained. "These records included the full specification book, original drawings, renderings, and early photographs – offering a clear view into the building's evolution."
Exterior renovations focused on returning the facade to its original grandeur. The limestone podium and distinctive Waldorf Grey brickwork were thoroughly cleaned and repaired to achieve a brand-new appearance. Mechanical systems that had been added over the years and cluttered the facade were carefully concealed. A second porte cochere was added to separate traffic for hotel guests and residents, while pedestrians maintained access to public spaces from both Park and Lexington Avenues.
The interior restoration proved particularly challenging due to the building's status as a designated interior landmark. The 62,000 square feet of public space, which received landmark designation in 2017, required the vast majority to be returned to original condition. SOM successfully recreated the expanding and contracting enfilade of spaces from the Park Avenue lobby to the famous Peacock Alley, named after a corridor that joined the two buildings of the original Waldorf Astoria on Fifth Avenue.
In the Park Avenue foyer, artist Louis Rigal's Wheel of Life tile mosaic and wall murals underwent painstaking restoration. A significant discovery from a historic photograph led to the revival of backlit, luminous marble panels on the ceiling, restoring the original symmetry of the central lobby. The East Arcade facing Lexington Avenue was completely overhauled to allow more natural light and create a grander procession to the ornately decorated event spaces.
Specialized restoration work was required for several historic rooms, including the Silver Corridor and the Basildon Room. Teams of experts worked meticulously to remove years of dirt and cigarette smoke stains from vivid murals before restoring their original colors. In the Basildon Room specifically, the original color scheme was reproduced based on a 1930s postcard, demonstrating the lengths taken to ensure historical accuracy.
The renovation of the Grand Ballroom represented a major component of the project, featuring upgrades with state-of-the-art technology while adhering to the architects' original plans. "While researching Schultze & Weaver's original design intent, we found that the architects envisioned a ceiling that emanated light from a series of coves – raised high above the floor to give the ballroom incredible grandeur," SOM noted. "But the ceiling's profile wasn't built as intended and 1930s lighting technology did not have the necessary reach to achieve the intended effect." Modern lighting technology finally allowed the architecture studio to realize the original design vision, while the entire ballroom space was acoustically isolated from the rest of the building through the addition of separation joints to structural steel beams.
Throughout the building, nearly 5,600 windows were replaced with designs that more closely resembled the originals, based on the only unaltered window found on the southwest side of the 16th floor. Windows on residential levels were subtly increased in height by one foot to allow more light into living spaces. The building's twin copper pinnacles, iconic features of the Manhattan skyline, now house duplex penthouse residences.
Standard hotel guest rooms were doubled in size and suites were expanded, all featuring interiors by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon that offer a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco style. The residential units, accessed from their own separate lobby, range from one- to four-bedroom configurations and provide sweeping views across the city. The uppermost full floors include extensive private amenities designed by Jean-Louis Deniot specifically for residents.
"From the street to the pinnacle, this project is a complete transformation of one of New York's most treasured landmarks," SOM concluded. "Our blend of preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse bridges the gap between the past and future, reestablishing the grandeur of the city's 'unofficial palace' and setting the stage for the building's second century." The restoration coincides with the centenary celebration of the Art Deco movement, highlighting the enduring significance of this architectural style in American cultural heritage.
