NEW YORK - The final phase of the $55 million renovations of 212 East 42nd Street will soon be complete. In January of 2011, Host Hotels & Resorts completed their purchase of the Helmsley Hotel on 42nd Street, and MLG were invited to join Jones Lang LaSalle (Owner’s Rep), Wilson Associates (Interior Design) and others on the project team for what would become the WESTIN NEW YORK – GRAND CENTRAL.  Host and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, had numerous improvements planned, including renovations throughout the guestrooms and public spaces, a major infrastructure upgrade, ADA upgrades throughout, as well as reprograming and relocating various guest amenities and back-of-house spaces, select façade renovations, and a new elevator to serve public levels. In addition to bringing the accommodations at the 830-key hotel, up to Westin standards, a number of guestrooms were recovered by relocating the fitness center (enlarged to 2,500 s.f.), and a variety of new room types and suites (executive, presidential, accessible, etc) were provided.

Not only was the design and construction of all of these improvements accomplished over the course of eighteen months while the hotel remained in continuous operation, but during the planning phase, MLG’s analysis of the existing FAR revealed over 16,000 square feet of unbuilt allowable floor area available for hotel expansion.  This made possible an extension of the ground floor lobby and the creation of significant new sidewalk presence, which eventually became Gerber Bars’ LCL. Together with all-new storefront and marquee, the WESTIN NEW YORK – GRAND CENTRAL attains a vital new presence on 42nd Street.