Union Square Hotel

The transformation of 16 East 16th Street, on the edge of Union Square Park, involves ambitious restoration work and a substantial expansion of the 6-story R. H. Robertson-designed YWCA dormitory from 1891 into a new 9-story boutique 80,000 sf hotel and private club. Our restoration work for this project comes in two forms: 1) a faithful re-creation of the carved sandstone ground floor masonry, entirely removed in the 1950’s, and 2) a leap-of-faith “restoration/interpretation” of Robertson’s original design for a never-realized gabled 7th floor as a contemporary glass curtain wall and masonry screen utilizing ultra-high strength concrete. The screen, while evoking the detailing and depth of the historic ornamentation of the existing façade, also offers dramatic views from the interiors while concealing a 3-story addition.

Behind the historic façade, the new hotel will extend further into the unusually deep site yet retain key portions of the historic masonry walls and offer guests a sense of both renewal within, and reverence for, the Ladies’ Mile historic district. In addition to a 72-key hotel, the property will include a members’ lounge, multiple restaurants, bars and roof terraces.