Developed as a conceptual redesign of the public spaces, this project was driven by a need to reposition an existing hotel within the evolving Long Island City hospitality market – where newly developed properties were raising expectations for design and guest experience. LHK design had previously designed the nearby Hyatt Place, establishing a new benchmark in the area; this proposal builds on that insight to reimagine how an existing property can compete through atmosphere, spatial clarity, and a more refined guest experience.
Arrival is no longer defined by a single moment, but by a gradual unfolding. The space transitions from reception into lounge and bar through a sequence of compressed and expanded zones – where ceiling, lighting, and material shifts guide movement intuitively rather than relying on partitions. What was once visually fragmented becomes continuous and composed.
A sculptural wall and ceiling installation establishes the defining gesture of the design. Set precisely between existing columns, the intervention introduces a framed architectural plane that extends vertically and overhead – cutting across the space and drawing the eye upward. Composed of metal and framed by columns now wrapped in wood, the installation transforms structural constraints into a deliberate architectural rhythm, introducing warmth and contrast while redefining the perception of volume, and simultaneously concealing previously exposed elevator doors at the point of arrival to create a more considered first impression and a clear transition to the elevator lobby beyond.
