AC Hotel Downtown

151 Maiden Lane New York, NY

Square Feet: 140,000 sf (New Construction)
Guest Rooms: 272
Completion Date: October 2018

Project Architect: Andrew Wong

Project Designer: Philip Poon

Once a rippling brook, Maiden Lane is one of the most storied streets of Manhattan. 151 Maiden Lane is located at the juncture of the Financial and the Seaport Districts, a rapidly developing enclave of restaurants, retail, and residential all adjacent to the new East River Waterfront Esplanade. Business and leisure travelers will have an upscale urban destination in a great locale.  

PPA was commissioned in 2014 as architect to design the hotel and produce interiors for this 33-story building. Responding to the brand’s requirements for an innovative, sleek, European-inspired, design-led guest experience, the office turned to the water metaphorically. Undulating and rippling above a floating base, the guest floor tower is composed of successive angled floor to ceiling bay windows providing each room with spectacular views of the harbor and Brooklyn.

The floating base is filled by the sky lobby, bar, and restaurant on one deck. The overhangs of the floating base shield and welcome an indoor outdoor open glass entry and reception underneath it. And quite literally, the ground floor base will have flood gates to protect against another Hurricane Sandy.

The interiors of sky lobby, bar, and restaurant are open and flowing contemporary spaces overlooking a wide vista created by plazas both sides of Maiden Lane.