A couple of the city’s historic buildings are undergoing some changes. Here is a closer look at what is taking place.
Four Seasons Gets an Interior Upgrade
The two main rooms of The Four Seasons eatery is going through a few changes, not just in terms of its menu but also in terms of its interior décor. The storied midcentury eatery will be undergoing a small revamp before it reopens as The Landmark Rooms at the Seagram Building in April. Major Food Group, which is overseeing the new interior project, is reportedly planning to keep true to the original design of the space. Given its landmark status, the new design will have to fit within certain parameters.
Initial plans call for cleaning the wood paneling and ceilings throughout the Pool and Grill rooms, repairing the chain curtains where needed and installing new carpeting with an abstract oxblood-colored pattern. Additional seating and a bar will also be added to the upper portion of the Pool Room, while Major Food Group has commissioned Knoll to design new chairs for the space. While Knoll created the original dining chairs, the new ones will not be carbon copies. Instead, they will have a similar concept while boasting updated metals and upholstery.
The area between the coat room and restrooms will also be reimagined to create more of a proper entrance. It is here where hosts will wait to walk diners to their tables. The rooms themselves will offer different dining options, with one being The Grill and the other being Pool. The Grill is scheduled to open in April.
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Interior
The Landmarks Commission recently heard public testimony regarding the proposal to landmark several interior areas of the Walford Astoria Hotel. Currently undergoing a massive transformation under the guidance of China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co., the LPC placed the hotel’s interiors on its calendars of items to designate after receiving numerous concerns that the interior would be destroyed as the hotel is converted to an apartment.
The Waldorf has a long and rich history, having functioned as a hotel for national and international visitors since the end of the 19th century. Over time, the evolution of the building has come to be representative of the evolution of the city itself. In addition to its architectural merit, many consider the building to be one of the city’s most culturally and politically significant commercial buildings.
Those who spoke in favor of landmarking the building’s interiors include the Art Deco Society of New York, Columbia University professor and historic preservationist Andrew Dolkart, The New York Landmarks Conservancy and several elected officials. Interior spaces being considered for landmark designation include the West Lounge on the first floor, which was previously known as Peacock Alley, and the main lobby on the first floor. The Grand Ballroom on the third floor is also being considered, as are many of the ceiling, wall and floor surfaces as well as light fixtures and furnishings in the Jade and Astor Galleries. The exterior of the hotel had previously been designated as a landmark in 1993.