Sofitel New York Hotel
Encyclopedia
Sofitel New York is a boutique hotel
on West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan
in New York City
, owned and managed by the Sofitel
corporation. It lies about 200 metres (656.2 ft) north of Bryant Park
and New York Public Library
and next to the New York Yacht Club
. The hotel is inspired by French traditions in furnishings and theme, and the hotel staff are bilingual in French and English. Completed in 2000, the 109 metres (357.6 ft), 30-floor, 398-guest room limestone and glass building was awarded the 2000 Emporis Skyscraper Award
.
(IMF) was reportedly responsible for funding the project after a design by Brennan Beer Gorman was chosen in an architectural competition which included entries from architects such as Michael Graves & Associates
. After construction the building was awarded the 2000 Emporis Skyscraper Award
.
On May 14, 2011, a 32-year-old housekeeper at the hotel, an immigrant from Guinea
, alleged that IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn
attempted to rape her in his hotel room. She had walked into his room as he was having a shower although he had not yet checked out.
and glass
, with a T-shaped base. The facade
was architecturally inspired by Parisian Moderne
limestone buildings and according to Frommer's Guide exudes "old-world French elegance" far beyond its years of existence as a hotel. The facade is bronze with 3 flying geese above in a large portal.
inspired and is overlooked by head chef Sylvain Harribey. The New York Times
describes the hotel as "beautifully run", "with a front desk at the far end of a ballroom-sized lobby, tucked away to the side, which gives the entrance a serene quality." The hotel staff are bilingual in both French and English.
In the center of the lobby there is "a 2-story rotunda with a curving staircase, a tall wooden sculpture, and a mural of Central Park
." The hotel contains a 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) Grand Ballroom with 2.5-story windows and 8 meeting rooms with a capacity of 10 to 60 people.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
on West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, owned and managed by the Sofitel
Sofitel
Sofitel is a luxury hotel chain managed by Accor, which opened its first property in Strasbourg in 1964. Its first overseas opening in Minneapolis, USA was in 1974. In 1995 Sofitel had 100 hotels in 40 countries and employed 12500 people....
corporation. It lies about 200 metres (656.2 ft) north of Bryant Park
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a 9.603 acre privately managed public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan...
and New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
and next to the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
. The hotel is inspired by French traditions in furnishings and theme, and the hotel staff are bilingual in French and English. Completed in 2000, the 109 metres (357.6 ft), 30-floor, 398-guest room limestone and glass building was awarded the 2000 Emporis Skyscraper Award
Emporis Skyscraper Award
The Emporis Skyscraper Award is an award for architectural excellence regarding the design of buildings and their functionality.The award is presented annually by Emporis to the building representing the "Best new skyscraper for design and functionality". To qualify, nominated buildings must have...
.
History
Construction on the hotel began in 1997, and it opened in the year 2000. The International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
(IMF) was reportedly responsible for funding the project after a design by Brennan Beer Gorman was chosen in an architectural competition which included entries from architects such as Michael Graves & Associates
Michael Graves
Michael Graves is an American architect. Identified as one of The New York Five, Graves has become a household name with his designs for domestic products sold at Target stores in the United States....
. After construction the building was awarded the 2000 Emporis Skyscraper Award
Emporis Skyscraper Award
The Emporis Skyscraper Award is an award for architectural excellence regarding the design of buildings and their functionality.The award is presented annually by Emporis to the building representing the "Best new skyscraper for design and functionality". To qualify, nominated buildings must have...
.
On May 14, 2011, a 32-year-old housekeeper at the hotel, an immigrant from Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, alleged that IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn , often referred to in the media, and by himself, as DSK, is a French economist, lawyer, politician, and member of the French Socialist Party...
attempted to rape her in his hotel room. She had walked into his room as he was having a shower although he had not yet checked out.
Architecture
Described as "one of midtown's new, glitzy "boutique" hotels," and claiming to offer a "mélange harmonieux du style français et de l'esprit" it is 109 metres (357.6 ft) tall with 30 floors and has 398 luxury guest rooms including 52 suites. The architectural design by Brennan Beer Gorman features limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, with a T-shaped base. The facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
was architecturally inspired by Parisian Moderne
Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
limestone buildings and according to Frommer's Guide exudes "old-world French elegance" far beyond its years of existence as a hotel. The facade is bronze with 3 flying geese above in a large portal.
Ground floor
The French theme is very strong in the hotel, from the greeting of "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir" in reception to the French restaurant Gaby which serves croissants for breakfast and the gift shop selling French perfumery and cosmetics. Gaby is Art DecoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
inspired and is overlooked by head chef Sylvain Harribey. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
describes the hotel as "beautifully run", "with a front desk at the far end of a ballroom-sized lobby, tucked away to the side, which gives the entrance a serene quality." The hotel staff are bilingual in both French and English.
In the center of the lobby there is "a 2-story rotunda with a curving staircase, a tall wooden sculpture, and a mural of Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
." The hotel contains a 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) Grand Ballroom with 2.5-story windows and 8 meeting rooms with a capacity of 10 to 60 people.