In 2013, The Lexington Hotel in New York City underwent a $46 million renovation to its public spaces, guestrooms and suites. The clients needed a design that would distinguish the hotel from the sea of competitors in midtown Manhattan. The extensive transformation succeeded in conveying the presence of a grand hotel with the intimacy of a boutique property. Upon entry, guests are immersed in elements of a modern day respite, while being transported to the hotel’s former jazz-age glamour. Our positioning of the property brought this experience to life by celebrating the design, music, art and literature of the time, and making it relevant for today.
The Lobby & Bar and Lounge:
Our goal was not to bring the public spaces back to the original nature, but to create something new and fresh that referenced the past while always looking forward. The core of the public spaces is the grand two-story lobby, retaining its original 1920s architecture by Schultz and Weaver, and welcoming guests through an elegantly draped entrance. It is the first impression when one enters the building, from which radiates the bar, reception, library, and is wrapped on the second level by a balcony that services the meeting rooms. The colors are rich, and the furniture and materials create an eclectic mix of shapes and textures. The double height of this space was highlighted by creating a wash in soft white/creamy colors on the walls, creating a dream like space. The ceilings, also bathed with soft light, change throughout the day, transitioning the mood from morning to night. A marble mosaic tile arrangement embedded with the hotel’s signature “L” insignia dresses the floor. And brilliant bronze elevator doors with whimsical songbirds serve as the entry point to the upstairs area of the hotel.
The reception desk, crafted in bronze and black lacquer, guards a featured wall that hosts a three-dimensional sculpture by artist Alba Clemente. The sculpture, a stand-out piece in the hotel’s art collection, was commissioned by industry insider and former confidante of Andy Warhol, Paige Powell. The collection includes more than thirty artists who were commissioned by Powell to develop site-specific pieces, including an immersive mural by Ruben Toledo, which wraps two floors of the hotel.
A redesigned bar, lounge and library radiate from the main lobby and offer a sense of welcoming openness. Four separate seating areas feature a fusion of modern, classic and 1920s-inspired furnishings. Guests are enveloped in a rich color palette and eclectic textures that hint at contemporary influences among the Lexington New York City’s Art Deco legacy. A musical tribute to the hotel’s past and present, an anthology of jazz melodies lingers on guests’ ears as they move from the entrance and through the lobby to the bar.
