The Twenty Two New York

The transformation and adaptive reuse of 16 East 16th Street, on the edge of Union Square Park, has successfully converted the 6-story R. H. Robertson–designed 1891 YWCA dormitory into a new 9-story, 80,000 sf boutique hotel and private club, now known as the Twenty Two New York. The ambitious restoration work took two primary forms: (1) a faithful re-creation of the carved sandstone ground-floor masonry, which had been entirely removed in the 1950s, and (2) a leap-of-faith “restoration/interpretation” of Robertson’s original design for a never-realized gabled 7th floor, reimagined as a contemporary glass curtain wall and a masonry screen utilizing ultra-high-strength concrete. The screen, while evoking the detailing and depth of the historic ornamentation of the existing façade, now provides dramatic interior views while discreetly concealing a 3-story addition.

Our collaboration with the ultra-high-performance concrete manufacturer included full-scale mock-ups of the lacy masonry screen and the engineering of its accompanying steel armature. The constraints and opportunities of UHPC guided the dimensions of the apertures and layers of the screen. To echo Robertson’s use of stone and brick in the original building, we developed custom stain levels during fabrication.

Behind the restored historic façade, the completed hotel extends deep into the unusually long site while retaining key portions of the historic masonry walls, offering guests a sense of renewal within and reverence for the Ladies’ Mile Historic District. In addition to its 72 guestrooms, the property features a members’ lounge, multiple restaurants, bars, and roof terraces.