Hospitality and Entertainment Projects

MARRIOTT FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES AND MARRIOTT SPRINGHILL SUITES, New York

RETROFIT TEAM

ARCHITECT: Gene Kaufman Architect PC, New York
DEVELOPER: McSam Hotel Group LLC, Great Neck, N.Y., (516) 773-9300
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: OMNIBUILD, New York
BRICK AND ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST INSTALLER: RVB Construction Inc., Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., (212) 299-7080
ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST FABRICATOR: Denoto Precast Inc., Lyndhurst, N.J., (718) 922-1977
EXTERIOR LIGHTING INSTALLER: Prince Electric Corp., Flushing, N.Y., (718) 353-7345

MATERIALS

The following materials were used in the project:

THIN BRICK: Rose Red Range from Redland
THIN-BRICK SUPPLIER: Belden Tri-State Building Materials
HISTORIC WINDOW MANUFACTURERS AND INSTALLERS: Fenestra Architectural Systems and Pioneer Window Mfg. Corp.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING: RAB Lighting and WAC Lighting
EXTERIOR LIGHTING SUPPLIER: Expressive Lighting

THE RETROFIT

This dual Marriot hotel, which includes a 286- key Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites and a 280-key Marriott SpringHill Suites, required two years and eight months of careful design and construction to maintain the façade of a six-story Gothic church on the property.

Gene Kaufman Architect (GKA) PC proposed a 26-story 570-room hotel. During the process of filing and design, the community board requested to maintain portions of the historical church, which was completed in 1905. GKA proceeded to integrate the base of the church with the new building.

The team accentuated the church wall by designing a glass wall in between the historical wall and the new tower. This provided separation and union of the new and old architectural languages.

One portion of the original church wall was maintained and restored, while the other portion of the façade was reconstructed meticulously following the original church design.

“My team went to great lengths to preserve the old church wall and overcame significant logistical and design-related challenges to protect the existing structure, which was a priority for this project from day one,” explains Gene Kaufman, GKA’s principal. “Efforts to remove and rebuild the upper portion of the wall were undertaken and ultimately resulted in a successful preservation initiative.”

The dual Marriott is set to open in early May.

IMAGES: GENE KAUFMAN ARCHITECT PC