After eight years of meticulous renovation, the Waldorf Astoria New York has officially reopened its doors, welcoming the public back into its iconic Art Deco interiors for the first time since 2017.
The transformation of the historic hotel, overseen by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), represents one of the most ambitious preservation projects in the city’s recent history. As New York Magazine’s architecture critic Justin Davidson describes it, the project was “a renovation that combines museum-quality restoration mixed with back-to-bare steel rehab.” Nearly 96% of the building has been transformed into a blend of luxury residences and a boutique five-star hotel, while preserving the landmarked 62,000 square feet of public spaces.
The New York Times reporter Julie Satow provided a detailed walk-through of the public areas, from the Park Avenue Lobby and Peacock Alley to the Grand Ballroom and Silver Corridor. Satow noted that architects spent years studying original designs by Schultze & Weaver, referencing archival documents, old photographs, and even vintage postcards to faithfully restore every detail. The result is a space that feels both “gleaming and refreshed” and deeply rooted in the Waldorf’s historic identity.
The reopened Waldorf Astoria signals not just the return of an architectural marvel, but also a renewed commitment to timeless elegance in one of Manhattan’s most storied addresses.
