The Twenty Two New York

The transformation and adaptive reuse of 16 East 16th Street, at the edge of Union Square Park, converts the six-story 1891 YWCA dormitory designed by R. H. Robertson into a nine-story, 80,000-square-foot boutique hotel and private club, now known as the Twenty Two New York.

The restoration work took two primary forms: (1) a faithful reconstruction of the carved sandstone ground-floor masonry, removed in the 1950s, and (2) an interpretive reimagining of Robertson’s unrealized gabled seventh floor. The latter is expressed as a contemporary glass curtain wall screened by ultra-high-performance concrete. Evoking the depth and intricacy of the original façade, the screen provides expansive interior views while discreetly concealing a three-story vertical addition.

Developed in collaboration with the UHPC manufacturer, the screen was refined through full-scale mock-ups and the engineering of an integrated steel armature. Material performance informed the geometry of its apertures and layered construction. Custom stain treatments were developed to reference Robertson’s original palette of stone and brick.

Behind the restored façade, the hotel extends deep into the unusually long site, retaining key portions of the historic masonry walls. The project balances preservation and intervention within the Ladies’ Mile Historic District. In addition to 72 guestrooms, the property includes a members’ lounge, multiple restaurants, bars, and rooftop terraces.