NEW YORK—The Conrad New York and surrounding restaurants and retail in Battery Park City were recently recognized by the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) with the 2012 Development of the Year Award. ALIS each year honors excellence and outstanding performance in hotel development and bestowed the prestigious award on Goldman Sachs as the developer of the project.
With its strong commitment to sustainability, the Conrad New York is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. The sustainable principles incorporated into the Conrad New York were also incorporated in the retail venues.
The 16-story, 463 all-suite luxury hotel along the Hudson River waterfront is a centerpiece of a development that encompasses notable retail and dining establishments and is the first New York City property from Conrad Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide’s global luxury brand. Early development/planning studies brought together expertise from Ernst & Young, Deborah Berke Partners and Williams Jackson Ewing to consider the site and potential amenities. Critical to the development were its efforts to attract and engage on multiple levels a wide variety of guests, visitors and community residents to create a sense of place and further define Battery Park City as a destination.
The design team was comprised of several esteemed partners, including architects Monica Ponce de Leon, Marianne McKenna of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg, and Kohn Pedersen Fox; designers Jill Greaves and Peter Remedios; Herve Descottes of lighting design firm L’Observatoire; landscape architect Ken Smith; engineering firms Ambrosino, DePinto & Schmeiderer, Flack and Kurtz, Thornton Tomasetti and Werner Sobek; energy and environment consultant Viridian; architectural graphics firm Poulin and Morris; catering by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events; and an art collection curated by the Public Art Fund and Elizabeth Gould Vales. Retail and tenant architects included Bentel & Bentel, Rogers Marvel Architects, Thomas Schlesser of Design Bureaux, SITE and Aria Group Architects, Open Shop Studio, Josh Held Design, Monica Ponce de Leon and Verderame Architecture.
A Catalyst for Additional Development
“We believe that the development of this site into a true, mixed-use hospitality, retail, dining and entertainment destination in Battery Park City has been both a catalyst for the ongoing transformation of the neighborhood and for the success of small businesses in the community,” said Timur Galen, global co-head of Goldman Sachs Corporate Services and Real Estate. “We set out to deliver an experience that is quintessentially ‘New York’ and we’re proud to be honored by ALIS for this work.”
“We’re proud to have been a part of the development,” said Robert Rechtermann, general manager, Conrad New York. “The Conrad New York and surrounding retail has created new eateries and more options to accommodate our local residents and their families, as well as international and domestic visitors.”
Conrad New York artwork represents the intersection of art and design, featuring, most prominently, Loopy Doopy (Blue and Purple), the Sol LeWitt wall drawing in its public atrium lobby, as well as site-specific installations by prominent contemporary artists Pat Steir and Imi Knoebel. This represents a significant collaboration punctuated by in-room works by Mary Heilmann, Sara Sosnowy and Elizabeth Peyton.
The development features dining, including the hotel’s ATRIO Wine Bar | Restaurant, serving contemporary Mediterranean cuisine from a wood-stone oven, and rooftop bar, Loopy Doopy, with sweeping views of New York Harbor. Additionally, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events is the exclusive food and beverage partner for the hotel’s more than 30,000 square feet of on-site conference and event facilities. Outside the hotel, the development is anchored by three restaurants from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group: the Shake Shack, a modern take on a “roadside” burger stand; Blue Smoke’s second New York City location, serving chef Kenny Callaghan’s authentic pit barbecue; and North End Grill, a modern American bar and grill from Chef Floyd Cardoz, winner of Season 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. Additionally, Harry’s Italian, part of the Poulakakos restaurant group, offers award-winning Italian specialties. A handful of other unique New York City establishments include Francois Payard Bakery, Battery Place Market, Wei West, Beans & Greens and Pick A Bagel. Combining with the restaurants are retail shops Vintry Wines, Bloom Florist and Artsee Eyewear, situated along North End Way between Murray and Vesey Streets.
Go to the Conrad New York.
