Serving as General Contractor, EW Howell Construction Group completed a rooftop redevelopment of the Peninsula New York hotel. Groundbreaking took place in January 2008 and the project was wrapped up in December 2008.

The Peninsula Hotel project included a 20,000-square-foot renovation of the top three floors of the hotel spa and restaurant facilities. The work encompassed construction of new treatment & relaxation rooms with personalized lighting and music selections, showers, a private spa suite with city views, saunas, locker rooms, an Asian tea lounge, gym & yoga rooms, relaxation lounges for men and women, as well as refurbishment of the existing pool. The top level of the hotel includes an extension of the bulkhead for new toilet facilities for the new Ming de Chine rooftop bar. This stylish lounge infuses Chinese and international design elements, and the dramatic rooftop terraces offer stunning views over Fifth Avenue.

This renovation project was designed by Stonehill & Taylor Architects and features interior design work by Alexandra Champalimaud & Associates and Chhada Siembieda Leung.

Numerous finishes throughout the project leave a lasting impression. Some of these finishes include recycled teak, stone and tile, gold-leaf Venetian plaster, upholstery and fabrics, and glass tile. Much emphasis and attention was given to the installation of these materials to ensure the quality of the final product.

One of the challenges posed during this intricate project was coordinating subcontractors and team members. This was especially true with Peninsula Hotels’ leaders in Hong Kong, which is 13 hours ahead of New York. Additionally, the owners had specific concerns to address, including the minimization of work being done at one time as to not interrupt ongoing operations. Thus, the project was broken into 4 phases to deliver finished areas back to the hotel as they were completed. Work began on all phases simultaneously; the rooftop bar was the first to be completed before being turned over to the client in time for the summer season.

A 23-story landmark building, The Peninsula, New York is ideally located on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, in the heart of New York City’s most prestigious shopping, cultural, and business neighborhood, in Mid-town Manhattan. The Peninsula New York features 185 spacious and luxurious guest rooms and 54 suites.