Columbia International Hotel and Residences

408 West 126th Street (New Construction)

170,000 Square Feet
138 Guest Rooms
93 Residences
Target Completion Date: March, 2021

Project Architect: George Kewin

Project Designer: Ting Xing Tao, Annique Fung

West Harlem also known as Manhattanville, is a neighborhood that has become the site of a major planned expansion of Columbia University, which has campuses in Morningside Heights to the south and Washington Heights to the north. The valley between the heights at one time was called the Hollow Way. It happened to the area of main action of one of the first successful Revolutionary War engagements, The Battle Harlem Heights that Washington directed from his overlook on the north.

Today an artistic revitalization has occurred surrounded by the culturally charged neighborhood of Harlem and at the crossroads of an expanding university campus. The unique site condition and history lends itself to support youthful energy and cosmopolitan living. The vision of the owner is to create an oasis for sophisticated Chinese students, their traveling parents, visiting professors and high tech business people. It will be both an escape from the city within the city and an inviting place to meet with chance encounter. There will be a boutique hotel, high end residences, street level eating, amenities, gardens, pool and rooftop overlooks.

The form of the project is conceived of as a rhythm of floor to ceiling living area openings. These modules will be clad in in glass from street to roof and then open as a grid trellis frame surrounding large roof terraces.. These large glass openings can be linked to the scale of the 19th century brownstones that one can find running in repetition down streets of the neighborhood.

The façade is augmented with large modern aluminum fin columns running from street to sky harkening back to the classicism of the Columbia Campus. The openings maximize light and air and provide superlative roof space at the required setback terraces. These terraces have one of a kind views to the south and the rest of Manhattan The Residential and Hotel entrances are angled to the main building that contrasts to the ground floor dining and commercial façade. Between is an entry to the garden courts in the rear. All in all the building looks to the past and to the future while serving the occupants today.