Sofitel New York Hotel

Construction on the hotel began in 1997, and it opened in 2000.{{cite book|last=Davidson|first=Hilary|title=Frommer's New York City Day by Day|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Wzrfn4MBhcC&pg=PA157|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=January 6, 2006|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-7645-7931-8|page=157}} The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was reportedly responsible for funding the project after a design by Brennan Beer Gorman was chosen in an architectural competition which included entries from architects such as Michael Graves & Associates. After construction the building was awarded the 2000 Emporis Skyscraper Award.{{cite book|title=Fabian ideas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29sEAQAAIAAJ|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=January 1, 2002|publisher=Fabian Society|isbn=978-0-7163-0601-6|page=43}}

{{main|New York v. Strauss-Kahn}}

On May 14, 2011, a 32-year-old housekeeper at the hotel, Nafissatou Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea, alleged that IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn raped her in his hotel room. She had walked into his room as he was having a shower although he had not yet checked out.{{cite news|author=the CNN Wire Staff |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/05/16/new.york.imf.questioning/ |title=IMF chief held without bail after being accused of attempted rape |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 16, 2011 |date=May 17, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/judge-denies-bail-to-imf-chief-in-sexual-assault-case-106200 |title=Judge denies bail to IMF Chief in sexual assault case |publisher=Ndtv.com |access-date=May 16, 2011}}{{cite news|author=Angelique Chrisafis in Paris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/15/dominique-strauss-kahn-arrest-allegations |title=Dominique Strauss-Kahn: from $3,000-a-night suite to police cell |work=The Guardian |access-date=May 16, 2011 |location=London |date=May 15, 2011}} Strauss-Kahn was at a New York airport where his plane was ready to take off when airport police asked that the plane be stopped a few minutes before takeoff. He was escorted off the plane and placed under arrest. The criminal case was dismissed and he settled out of court with his accuser in a civil case.

File:Sofitel New York2.jpg

The hotel is {{convert|358|ft|adj=off}} tall with 30 floors and has 398 luxury guest rooms including 52 suites.{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=114290 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614132741/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=114290 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 14, 2004 |title=Sofitel New York|publisher=Emporis|access-date=May 20, 2011}} The architectural design by Brennan Beer Gorman features limestone and glass, with a T-shaped base.{{cite book|last1=Leroy|first1=Yann Andre|last2=Vitta|first2=Maurizio|title=Yann Andre Leroy of Brennan Beer Gorman: the space of difference|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rdlPAAAAMAAJ|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=February 1, 2003|publisher=Arca Edizioni|isbn=978-88-7838-069-1}} The facade was architecturally inspired by Parisian Moderne limestone buildings.{{cite book|last1=Schlecht|first1=Neil Edward|last2=Silverman|first2=Brian|last3=Acker|first3=Kerry|author4=Gavin, Tom|title=Frommer's New York State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AH3v32DsldYC&pg=PA102|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=December 30, 2009|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-470-53765-7|page=102}}{{cite book|last1=Silverman|first1=Brian|last2=Chauvin|first2=Kelsy|last3=Goodman|first3=Richard|title=Frommer's New York City 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fEfHkqPhgbwC&pg=PA16|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=October 19, 2010|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-470-63231-4|page=16}} The facade is bronze and depicts three flying geese above in a large portal.{{cite book|last=Wolfe|first=Gerard R.|title=New York, 15 walking tours: an architectural guide to the metropolis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS6lWxkeEF8C&pg=PA341|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=March 25, 2003|publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional|isbn=978-0-07-141185-1|page=341}} DeSimone Consulting Engineers were the structural engineers for the building.{{Cite web|title = Sofitel New York - DeSimone|url = http://www.de-simone.com/projects/project/sofitel-new-york/|website = www.de-simone.com|access-date = December 16, 2015}}

The ground floor contains the French restaurant Gaby and bar Mademoiselle Gaby. Gaby is Art Deco inspired and is overlooked by head chef Fabien Ludwig. The New York Times describes the hotel's front desk as being positioned on the opposite end of the lobby, "which gives the entrance a serene quality".{{cite book|author=New York Times Guides|title=The New York Times Guide to New York City 2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iT9mp5VrzBAC|access-date=May 20, 2011|date=November 18, 2004|publisher=New York Times Books|isbn=978-1-930881-10-5|page=400}} The hotel staff are bilingual in French and English. The lobby contains a double-height rotunda at its center, which has a wooden sculpture, a Central Park-themed mural, and a round staircase. The hotel contains a {{convert|2,500|sqft|m2}} Grand Ballroom with 2.5-story windows and 8 meeting rooms with a capacity of 10 to 60 people.

Frommer's describes the hotel rooms as "spacious and ultra-comfortable, adorned with art from New York and Paris". The rooms also have king beds; bathrooms with showers and tubs; and soundproof walls and windows.{{cite web|url=http://www.frommers.com/destinations/newyorkcity/H46387.html|title=Sofitel New York|publisher=Frommer's|access-date=May 20, 2011}} The majority of the beds are cream or white or white with maroon trimmings and feature large paintings above the headboards. The bathrooms have Roger & Gallet bath amenities.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkjourney.com/sofitel_new_york_hotel.htm|title=Sofitel New York Hotel|publisher=New York Journey|access-date=May 20, 2011}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Ccat}}

• {{Oweb|https://sofitel.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-2185-sofitel-new-york/index.shtml}}

{{Portal bar|New York City|Architecture}}

{{Midtown North, Manhattan}}

{{Emporis Skyscraper Award}}

{{Hotels in New York City}}

Category:Hotels in Manhattan

Category:Hotels established in 2000

Category:Sofitel

Category:Midtown Manhattan