The Waldorf Astoria in Midtown Manhattan has undergone a nearly $2 billion renovation project, reopening after years of restoration work. Initially opened over a century ago, it became a symbol of high society, hosting elite gatherings in a corridor known as 'Peacock Alley.' Over the years, various renovations compromised the hotel's character. The recent renovation aimed to restore its Art Deco magnificence, with workers meticulously bringing back the hotel's opulence, making it a spectacular destination once again.
When the Waldorf Astoria opened over a century ago, the hotel became so synonymous with high society gatherings that one of its corridors-where the elite came to show off their finest attire-was known as 'Peacock Alley.' The hotel quickly became a symbol of New York's glamour, ambition, and what the author Henry James called the 'hotel spirit'-a place where everyone was equal as long as they could pay the price of entry.
When I visited in late April, the ambition was evident in the constellation of workers buzzing around the premises. Some were tearing plastic wrap from freshly delivered armchairs. Others were busying around Cole Porter's grand piano, which was tauntingly shrouded under a protective cloak. But if the renovation was one giant puzzle, then these were the last pieces.
The renovation project of the Waldorf Astoria has been described as a 1.6 million square foot, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, showcasing meticulous restoration efforts to revive its former glory.
Spanning an entire block in Midtown Manhattan, the Waldorf Astoria was the tallest and largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1931, to a design by Schultze & Weaver.
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