Hotel Plaza Athénée

Hotel Plaza Athénée

Location New York, NY

Category Hospitality

Hotel Facade Inspection and Townhouse Facade Rehabilitation

Located one block from Central Park in a leafy residential neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Hotel Plaza Athénée has garnered a reputation for quiet elegance and refinement. As a New York City designated landmark, the 1927 building is an important part of the city’s architectural history. As such, its preservation and upkeep is important not only to hotel management, but to the surrounding community.

When Jones Lang LaSalle wanted an experienced exterior design firm to conduct the required Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) / Local Law 11 of 1998 facade inspection of the Hotel Plaza Athénée, they retained Hoffmann Architects + Engineers. Our design professionals conducted a condition assessment of the hotel’s brick and terra cotta facade, limestone lintels and sills, and exterior appurtenances. Beyond cataloging observed deficiencies, Hoffmann provided opinions of probable cause, including erosion, freeze/thaw cycling, moisture infiltration, and other effects of time and weather. The firm then provided all necessary filing services with the New York City Department of Buildings.

In addition, Jones Lang LaSalle retained Hoffmann to design and oversee facade rehabilitation of an adjacent townhouse owned by the hotel. Our architects and engineers reviewed original drawings and reports and examined existing site conditions in order to develop an appropriate scope of work. The firm then prepared drawings and specifications for the stabilization and repair of the courtyard elevation of the townhouse. As a city landmark, the building needed to comply with New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) regulations. Hoffmann coordinated renovation work with the LPC, submitting materials for review and approval.

Prior to construction, our design professionals evaluated the contractor’s proposal to verify its compliance with contract documents. As construction proceeded, Hoffmann was on site to review contractor submittals and assess the progress and quality of the work. Field observation reports and project team meetings provided design oversight through the project completion.