Machers

SLCE and Dice: Extell Dumps Design at New Times Square Hyatt Hotel

Hyper Hyatt. (Extell)

The Observer has been a big fan of developer Gary Barnett for a while now, not only because he is the most prolific builder in the city at the moment, but he is also doing it with marquee architects, such as Christian de Portzamparc (Riverside South, One57), SOM (the International Gem Tower), FXFowle (the Lucida) and Lucian LeGrange (535 West End Avenue). Now, Extell has announced it is moving forward with a new hotel in Times Square, and the designs are, well, about what you would expect for the area, and that is too bad.

The 550-foot-tall Hyatt Times Square, located at 45th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, will have 487 four-star rooms, according to a release, and will include all the standard amenities: lobby bar, restaurant, spa and fitness center, plus a roof-top terrace and “sky lounge.” (The Observer prefers the Marriott Marquis’ Atrium Bar, still the best-kept secret in Times Square.)

The building is being designed by the cookie-cutter architects at SLCE with interiors by the respectable SPaN. On the one hand, this is a disappointment. On the other, this is Times Square, so it’s about par for the street.

“We are eager to complete the construction of Hyatt Times Square,” Mr. Barnett said in the release. “This unique hotel offering will provide travelers convenient access to some of New York’s most iconic and popular destinations.” Completion is expected by 2013.

We’ll let this one slide, so long as Mr. Barnett keeps using quality architects on the projects he builds for actual New Yorkers.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

Matt is The Observer's real estate editor. Follow Matt on Twitter or via RSS. mchaban@observer.com

Comments

  1. I am really confident that the building will look spectacular and will be something different. Looking forward to see it. Thanks for the news! 

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