New York Palace Unveils "The Mansion Rooms"

Jun 18, 2007 - Manhattan, New York

The New York Palace Hotel, a landmark luxury property located in the heart of Manhattan on the corner of 50th & Madison, today announced the completion of The Mansion Rooms, a 17-month, $12 million public space renovation project. The new 13,000 square-foot venue, luxuriously situated over the fourth and fifth floors of the hotel's famed Villard Mansion, includes seven classically designed rooms with natural light and spacious foyers overlooking The Madison Avenue Courtyard. Originally designed in 1882 by Stanford White and the firm of McKim, Mead & White, The Villard Mansion was seamlessly blended into the construction of a 55-story hotel tower in 1978 and has served as the entranceway to The Palace since the hotel opened its doors in 1980. This new space, developed for social and corporate events such as weddings and investor conferences, is located directly upstairs from GILT, The New York Palace Hotel's critically acclaimed New American restaurant. Prior to the renovation, the floors were used as private office space.

"Beginning with the launch of GILT in December of 2005, The Palace has made great strides in reintegrating the beauty and history of The Villard Mansion into the guest experience," said Niklaus J. Leuenberger, Managing Director of The New York Palace Hotel. "The Mansion Rooms are a state-of-the-art homage to the life and spirit of legendary American entrepreneur Henry Villard. These rooms have been masterfully crafted to recreate the feeling and spirit of late nineteenth century New York. What gives this venue greater authenticity is the fact that it was created within the walls of a structure that played host to some of the most seminal moments of the Gilded Age. From private meetings to grand soirees, we are thrilled that the upper floors of The Villard Mansion are once again alive with the sounds of celebration."

From concept to completion, the project was overseen by Mark Dehnert, Executive Director of Property Operations of The New York Palace Hotel. Mr. Dehnert enlisted the services of Champion Construction to spearhead the construction and the firm of BBGM (Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors) to design the interior of the space.

BBGM was charged with creating a new atmosphere that would reflect the Neo-Italian Renaissance style of the original architecture. A gut renovation enabled BBGM to craft new lobbies on each floor, creating grand first impressions. Elegant five-colored star marble floors in the entry were designed to reflect the grand rooms of Europe. Crema Valencia, Arabescato oro, and Port Laurent marbles are accented by red granite. Guests entering both lobbies are welcomed by a contemporary crystal chandelier, a mixture of clear and amber, smoky taupe and carmine colored hand blown glass bulbs, set on brass arms that spiral and intertwine. Crystal trimmings respond to the decorative ceiling molding to complement the lobby's grandeur. Every piece of intricate molding, including rosettes, cornices and ceiling ornaments, was designed and applied to evoke old-world elegance and appear part of the original decor. Two color palettes -- burgundy with gold accents or sapphire -- are blended throughout The Mansion Rooms. Sophisticated window treatments include stunning swags, jabots and stationary panels in silk and velvet, all accented with decorative tassels and trim. The treatments are designed to maximize natural light penetration into the rooms and enhance the view of Saint Patrick's Cathedral. "Working within the framework of a 125-year old landmark building was both highly challenging and deeply inspiring," said Mr. Dehnert. "We are very proud of the fact that we were able stay true to the original ambience of The Villard Mansion while establishing a functionality that will support a seamless operation for elaborate events."

Overlooking 50th Street from the fifth floor is The Henry Room. A quintessential self-made man, Henry Villards's profound belief in American ideals led him to success as an abolitionist, journalist, railroad baron, philanthropist, and the creative force behind one of the finest residences in New York City. Created amidst the excitement of the Gilded Age, The Villard Mansion today has the rare distinction of both exterior and interior landmark status. To honor the legacy of this revered space, the Mansion Rooms have been named after individuals who played an integral role in the evolution of the building, along with Henry Villard. These include:

The Edison Room: Named after Thomas Alva Edison, the famed American inventor and a business partner of Mr. Villard.

The Garrison Room Named after William Lloyd Garrison, an outspoken abolitionist and the father-in-law of Mr. Villard.

The Rutherford Room: Named after William Rutherford Mead, an architect and founding partner of McKim, Mead & White.

The Roswell Room Named after Roswell Smith, an original Villard resident, noted publisher and outspoken abolitionist.

The Louis RoomNamed after Louis Comfort Tiffany, the renowned Art Nouveau stained glass artist.

The Stanford RoomNamed after Stanford White, an architect and founding partner of McKim, Mead & White.

With the completion of The Mansion Rooms renovation, The New York Palace now has 24 rooms for meetings and special events. These venues include The Library, The Drawing Room, The Chairman's Office, The Reid Salon, and The Villard Ballroom. The event space of The New York Palace Hotel is available for private site tours. Please call our catering office at 212-303-7766 if you wish to schedule a time.