New York Marriott Marquis
Encyclopedia
New York Marriott Marquis is a Marriott International
hotel at 1535 Broadway
opened in 1985 and was designed by architect
John Portman
. It is located in the heart of Times Square
at Broadway
and 45th Street. The hotel is famous for its high-tech elevators and atrium lobby
rising 45 stories to The View, New York's only rooftop revolving restaurant and lounge. With 1,949 rooms and over 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) of meeting space, it is one of the largest hotels in the city. The Marquis Theatre
is located within the hotel at the 3rd floor level.
, the Morosco
, the Astor
, the Bijou
, and the Gaiety—were demolished to clear the site. Protesters, including Christopher Reeve
(then at the height of his Superman fame) tried to stop the destruction, even forcing a Supreme Court challenge, but it was too late. What was dubbed "The Great Theater Massacre of 1982" went forward to make way for the hotel. By the time construction began, original operators Western International Hotels (today Westin) had dropped out of the project and Marriott had stepped in.
The hotel has been criticized for turning its back to Times Square. However, at the time the hotel was built, Times Square was only beginning to turn around. With the still-seedy character of Times Square, Portman's style of inwardly-oriented spaces made logical sense. The present redevelopment of Times Square as an urban destination point has left the Marriott Marquis detached from the street. However, the Marriott was the first major project in the Times Square revitalization, and has been credited as the starting point for today's development node at Times Square.
The hotel has 36 guest room floors and features an award-winning restaurant on the top floor called "The View".
The hotel is served by twelve scenic elevators, which are famous for facing into an atrium that stretches the height of the hotel. The cabs travel at 1000 feet (304.8 m) per minute. They received a major modernization in 2005 that included replacing the cabs and reducing waiting times from originally more than 30 minutes in the past down to less than 5 minutes.
At the time the hotel was built, it featured Manhattan's largest grand ballroom and its first revolving restaurant, a three-story, 1,500-seat theater, a second and third ballroom, and 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) of meeting, banquet and exhibition spaces.
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
hotel at 1535 Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
opened in 1985 and was designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
John Portman
John Portman
John C. Portman, Jr. is an American architect and real estate developer widely known for popularizing hotels and office buildings with multi-storied interior atriums....
. It is located in the heart of Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
at Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
and 45th Street. The hotel is famous for its high-tech elevators and atrium lobby
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
rising 45 stories to The View, New York's only rooftop revolving restaurant and lounge. With 1,949 rooms and over 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²) of meeting space, it is one of the largest hotels in the city. The Marquis Theatre
Marquis Theatre
The Marquis Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 1535 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.Situated on the third floor of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, the 1611-seat venue was designed by developer/architect John C. Portman, Jr...
is located within the hotel at the 3rd floor level.
Creation
The hotel was born in controversy because five historic theaters—the Helen HayesFulton Theatre/Helen Hayes Theatre
The Fulton Theatre was a Broadway Theatre located at 210 West 46th Street in New York that was opened in 1911. It was re-named the Helen Hayes Theatre in 1955. The theatre was demolished in 1982...
, the Morosco
Morosco Theatre
The Morosco Theatre was a legitimate theatre located at 217 West 45th Street in the heart of the theater district in midtown-Manhattan, New York, United States....
, the Astor
Astor Theatre
The Astor Theatre was a New York City Broadway theatre from 1906 to 1925 in the United States of America. It was located at 1537 Broadway, at W. 45th Street. It was first managed by Wagenhals and Kemper, then by George M. Cohan and Sam Harris, and later by the Shuberts. From 1925 to 1972 it was a...
, the Bijou
Bijou Theatre
Two Broadway theatres have been named the Bijou Theatre.The first was converted into a theatre in 1878 and rebuilt in 1883. It was often called the Bijou Opera House and was located at 1239 Broadway. It was also sometimes called The Brighton Theatre. It became a popular venue for operettas in...
, and the Gaiety—were demolished to clear the site. Protesters, including Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
(then at the height of his Superman fame) tried to stop the destruction, even forcing a Supreme Court challenge, but it was too late. What was dubbed "The Great Theater Massacre of 1982" went forward to make way for the hotel. By the time construction began, original operators Western International Hotels (today Westin) had dropped out of the project and Marriott had stepped in.
The hotel has been criticized for turning its back to Times Square. However, at the time the hotel was built, Times Square was only beginning to turn around. With the still-seedy character of Times Square, Portman's style of inwardly-oriented spaces made logical sense. The present redevelopment of Times Square as an urban destination point has left the Marriott Marquis detached from the street. However, the Marriott was the first major project in the Times Square revitalization, and has been credited as the starting point for today's development node at Times Square.
The hotel has 36 guest room floors and features an award-winning restaurant on the top floor called "The View".
The hotel is served by twelve scenic elevators, which are famous for facing into an atrium that stretches the height of the hotel. The cabs travel at 1000 feet (304.8 m) per minute. They received a major modernization in 2005 that included replacing the cabs and reducing waiting times from originally more than 30 minutes in the past down to less than 5 minutes.
At the time the hotel was built, it featured Manhattan's largest grand ballroom and its first revolving restaurant, a three-story, 1,500-seat theater, a second and third ballroom, and 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) of meeting, banquet and exhibition spaces.