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A beam found in structural drawings, as one foot wide turned out to be three, a first view of the conditions found during the renewal of the Waldorf Astoria New York.
Hotel Landmark closed in 2017 to undergo a large amount Update of $ 2 billion It aimed to turn part of the building into luxury condominis while restoring its historic interiors. Suffolk, the general contractor of the project, reinforced the structural elements of aging and replaced the obsolete infrastructure hidden below the walls and soils, including the beams that no longer met the modern requirements.
The work marked a fundamental phase in a broad restaurant.
Carmine Favia
Permission granted by Suffolk
“What really emphasized the rest is that it was not only the construction or the new construction, but it was a renewal work with a historical historical aspect,” he said, “he said,” he said, “he said,” he said, “he said,” he said, ” Carmine Favia, Superintendent General of Suffolk. “A lot was as it came, a bite at a time.”
According to the contractor, the project included residential and hotel components. Suffolk managed the work by dividing it into three separate teams (residential, hotel and basic infrastructure), each with its own executive and superintendent of projects. A fourth executive oversaw the three to maintain continuity during the operation, said Kevin Mangan, executive of the Suffolk project.
A Suffolk construction worker strolled around the silver hallway during the renewals in Waldorf Astoria in New York City, New York
Permission granted by Suffolk
A central challenge revolved around Waldorf’s historical identity while installing modern services and infrastructure. To do this, Suffolk was eliminated, cataloged and stored original elements of original plaster, mill work, metal details and out of stone in climate warehouses.
The team took molds of fragile decorative pieces that could not be appealed to replicate them for installation. Some of the most complex restoration work in the building required niche skills supply craftsmen, such as the application of golden leaves and silver paper, to return to the original appearance.
A worker restores the roof of Waldorf Astoria’s great dance room in New York City
Permission granted by Suffolk
The silver hallway stands out among the jewels of the Crown of the Restoration, said Favia.
The murals of the century, moved from the original Waldorf near the Empire State building, now aligning the walls after the crews were reinstalled and restored. The equipment also eliminated a mechanical room added later to reopen the Patio de Basildon, restoring its original 1920’s configuration. Other additions included reference spaces such as the Grand Ballroom, where the teams installed MEP modern systems above delicate interiors.
“It looks good on paper, but when you really enter it, it is really ten times tougher,” said Favia. “Some of these walls are 20 feet high, made of terracotta, and ask how they are still in sight after all these years.”
For example, Waldorf slabs were not made with concrete reinforced to receive current eight inches Favia. Instead, some soils were built from a mixture of ashes, terracotta and chicken wire coated in ash concrete.
Technology to solve old school problems
Suffolk scanned the entire building via Planit, a laser scan tool for the technology company. This allowed equipment to detect discrepancies before installation, finally avoiding delays and expensive re -elaboration.
Kevin Mangan
Permission granted by Suffolk
The team also used the Suffolk Plan + control process to merge drawing sets into a coordinated model, identifying problems before the work began.
“It is used for mechanical coordination and is used for disposition and helps us to try to identify restrictions and conflicts that you do not necessarily be able to obtain traditional,” said Mangan. “Solve a great majority of problems before you start on the ground.”
Suffolk used processing project management software for all processing, RFI and financial and presentation documentation to provide a visual record of construction progress from demonstration to closing. The contractor also installed Wint, a smart water control system, to set leaks and prevent expensive water damage.
The Waldorf Astoria clamp surrounded by scaffolding during the renovation work.
Permission granted by Suffolk
The part of the Waldorf Astoria hotel is expected to be reopened in 2025, Mangan said. The residential side will continue by 2026.
“Honestly, I don’t think ever again in my life, or to anyone, do something like this during his life,” said Favia. “This is really a unique job for all of us.”
