The Plaza Hotel & Residences

New York, NY

When the Plaza Hotel opened its doors on October 1, 1907, it was acclaimed as the greatest hotel in the world. Bernhard Beinecke, Fred Sterry, and Harry S. Black, President of the Fuller Construction Company, purchased a 15-year-old hotel of the same name on the site, with the intent of replacing it with a 19-story building (a skyscraper back then). Architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh’s design in the style of a late medieval French hunting chateau cost of $12 million to build.

From its original 19th century construction to its magnificent $450 million dollar restoration in 2008 the hotel, located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, has had a remarkable history. The Plaza has surpassed expectations, been featured in numerous movies, attracted countless famous guests, and become a New York City icon.

As part of the comprehensive renovations to modify the use of the Plaza to include high-end condominium residential units, EverGreene was selected by the Construction Manager and the Owner to restore the interior finishes of the historic landmarked spaces. Work began with mockups of treatments for Caen stone, plaster, decorative painting, wood doors, stone, ornamental metal, and mosaic floors for review by the client team, the preservation architect, and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. EverGreene then supplied more than 30 skilled craftspeople on the site for six months during this fast-track, large-scale project – performing extensive interior renovation of the public spaces, including the Terrace Room, the Ballroom, the Palm Court, the Oak Bar, Residential Lobbies, and other areas of the hotel.

Our team met the challenges of decades of deterioration, fulfilling the mandate to restore the original design intent while incorporating limited modifications for contemporary use.