NEW YORK—The Algonquin Hotel, Autograph Collection, announced the completion of a full renovation of all guestrooms, elevators, and corridors. Completed through a phased, multi-year renovation process, the project was executed while the hotel remained fully operational, preserving the guest experience throughout construction.
Led by Brooklyn-based interior design firm CRÈME / Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design in collaboration with LUCID, the design and development arm of Highgate Hotels, the redesign was guided by two central ideas: honoring The Algonquin’s legacy and paying tribute to New York City. The project drew inspiration from the hotel’s history as a gathering place for writers, performers, and academics.
“The Algonquin Hotel has long served as a safe haven for wild minds, a quiet place along Club Row in the center of the wonderful whirlwind that is New York City,” said Willis Loughhead, general manager of The Algonquin, in his 6th year at the helm. “Our focus was to honor the past without being beholden to it; timeless rooms were built where creativity can be sparked, and our landmark charm will be enlivened.”
Guestroom Updates
Without altering the hotel’s historic footprint, CRÈME embraced the guestrooms’ proportions and allowed the original framework of the building to shape the experience. Each guestroom and suite includes a custom triptych artwork with exclusive Al Hirschfeld pieces, curated in partnership with The Al Hirschfeld Foundation and Director David Leopold, with a gold leaf-accented Central Park illustration that is exclusive to The Algonquin Hotel.
Throughout the corridors, visitors will see archival Hirschfeld works spanning theater, music, literature, and popular culture, with each floor having its own unique collection. The works selected were drawn from the entirety of Al Hirschfeld’s 80-year career in New York City. Rather than presenting the artwork in a traditional gallery, the pieces are woven throughout the property.
“The Algonquin and Al Hirschfeld share a uniquely New York story rooted in creativity, character, and storytelling,” said David Leopold of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation. “Together, the hotel and foundation curated a collection that can’t be found anywhere else and an immersive experience where every hallway, room and detail invites guests to engage with art and storytelling in a deeply personal way.”
Design Details
The renovation also introduced design details such as oversized luggage-tag-inspired room signage with 181 individually curated quotes from legends who created or influenced the hotel. Each guestroom displays its own message from a cast of characters and past residents such as Kermit the Frog, Maya Angelou, John Leguizamo, The Notorious B.I.G., Dorothy Parker, and The Vicious Circle; all cultural figures with ties to The Algonquin Hotel Times Square and the city of New York City. Art Deco references and jazz-inspired patterns appear throughout the design, including rhythmic corridor carpeting.
Additional design details include brass fixtures, layered lighting, custom marble-topped furnishings inspired by the hotel’s original stairwells, and integrated architectural elements. The rooms have been updated with rich walnut woods, ebonized oak, aged bronze finishes, and charcoal velvet headboards, as well as a palette of deep and light celadon, peacock green, charcoal, and soft neutrals.
Food and Beverage
The hotel’s culinary experience has also evolved alongside the renovation, with new menu items and cocktails served alongside redesigned menus at The Blue Bar Restaurant & Lounge, also created in collaboration with The Al Hirschfeld Foundation. Featuring archival Hirschfeld drawings, the refreshed offerings extend the hotel’s design narrative while highlighting the artists, performers, and personalities that have long shaped The Algonquin’s cultural identity.