InterContinental Hotels Group reopened the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel following a 20-month, $180 million renovation. The revitalization of the property included upgrades and the restoration of the original design by Cross & Cross, the former architecture firm known for its design of the Tiffany & Co. building on Fifth Avenue.
IHG Design Studio oversaw the project, which was completed by Stonehill & Taylor Architects, HOK (formerly BBGM) and Shawmut Construction.
A new lobby now leads to a Carrara marble grand staircase, while artwork – such as antique maps and Hudson River School landscapes from the 1800s – was selected to honor the Barclay’s 1920s heritage. Original design details were kept intact. There are also classical furnishings, from urns and sculptures to pieces with damask and rinceau patterns. The Federalist design motif can be seen in elements such as the eagle medallion doorplates at the doors of each of the 704 guestrooms.
Two ballrooms — the 4,954-square-foot Grand and the 3,500-square-foot Empire — have 17-foot-tall coffered ceilings, chandeliers, and custom crown molding and millwork. Included in the Barclay’s 15,000 square feet of social space is the Club InterContinental and the Gin Parlour, inspired by 1920s Dutch and English gin bars.
The Barclay, located at 111 E 48th St., is owned by Constellation Barclay Holding US, LLC, which is an affiliate of Constellation Hotels Holding Limited. The hotel is managed by IHG.
