Marriott International’s Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts brand has opened its second property in New York City. The 21-story, 165-room Le Méridien New York, Fifth Avenue includes 17 apartment-style residences for longer stays.
Designed by Gene Kaufman Architect, the hotel's light-colored masonry façade and grid of windows with dark railings are meant to blend traditional elements with a modern flair. The interiors, designed by Paul Vega and Vennie Lau of New Jersey-based design studio VLDG, pay homage to the neighborhood that was dominated by the textile mercantile trade in the 20th century. Bold geometric patterns, contrasting colors and textured fabrics are woven into the hotel's design scheme and infused with New York City cultural elements and modern, midcentury design details. Signature elements include curated artwork throughout the lobby, including an acrylic wall sculpture, a textile column that merges units of color and patchwork to create a patterned field and a scale map printed on wood acoustic walls.
The aesthetic extends to the guestrooms, which have custom murals that depict a map of Manhattan with connecting waterways. The color palette uses shades of gray and blue with pink accents, and six of the rooms have walk-out terraces.
The Le Méridien Hub is meant to be a modern reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby, serving coffee during the day and cocktails in the evening at the Latitude/Longitude Bar. The property also has an all-day restaurant and a 24-hour health club.
The new hotel is located on Fifth Avenue between West 30th and West 31st streets, and opens three years after Le Méridien New York, Central Park brought the brand to the city.