Waldorf Astoria owners revealed renderings of their renovation plans for the landmark hotel on Wednesday, a beautification process that they said would preserve its historic past while instilling a modern spirit.
Owners submitted their proposals to the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission for the makeover, which would cover the lobby and ballrooms and other ground floor space. Those sections of the hotel were landmarked earlier this month.
The midtown institution is closed for two to three years as it goes through a massive conversion of most of the rooms into condos. The owners, China’s Anbang Insurance Group, expressed commitment to preserving and enhancing the public areas.
“The restoration of the beautiful landmarked spaces is central to the Waldorf Astoria New York’s future as a New York City icon and global destination,” Anbang managing director Brandon Dong said in a statement.
The LPC, which has to approve the renovations to the landmarked spaces, declined to comment about the proposal. The 86-year-old hotel’s exteriors were landmarked in 1993.
Architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon will spearhead the work across the hotel.
They will revive the art deco style, repaint the walls, repair the floor mosaic and polish the gold and stone statues in the foyer.
“Protecting the spirit of this iconic property and reflecting its history through a modern, more forward-thinking lens will be at the heart of the hotel’s interior design,” Rocohon said in a statement.
The ground floor rooms have hosted thousands of events for presidents, foreign leaders and other dignitaries such as the Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner, which has taken place annually since 1945. This year’s dinner will take place at the Midtown Hilton.
Scroll down to check out renderings of the plans.
