Preserving History and Modernizing Luxury: The $2B Renovation of the Waldorf Astoria

The Waldorf Astoria New York, a historic landmark hotel, has undergone a massive $2 billion renovation since it closed in 2017. The project, which aims to convert part of the building into luxury condominiums while preserving its historic interiors, has presented unique challenges for the general contractor, Suffolk.

One of the first hurdles the team encountered was a structural beam that was listed as one foot wide but turned out to be three feet wide. This was just the beginning of the conditions crews would encounter throughout the renovation. The team had to reinforce aging structural elements and replace outdated infrastructure hidden beneath the walls and floors, including beams that no longer met modern requirements.

The project included both residential and hotel components, and Suffolk managed the work by dividing it into three separate teams—residential, hotel, and core infrastructure—each with its own project executive and superintendent. A fourth executive oversaw all three to maintain continuity across the operation.

One of the central challenges revolved around preserving the Waldorf’s historic identity while installing modern amenities and infrastructure. To achieve this, Suffolk first removed, cataloged, and stored original plaster elements, millwork, metal details, and stone offsite in climate-controlled warehouses. The team then took molds of fragile decorative pieces that couldn’t be salvaged to replicate them for installation.

Some of the building’s most intricate restoration work required sourcing craftspeople with niche skills, such as applying gold leaf and silver paper, to bring the interiors back to their original look. The silver corridor stands out as one of the restoration’s crown jewels, with century-old murals now lining the walls after crews reinstalled and restored them.

To solve some of the old-school issues, Suffolk used Planit, a laser scanning tool from the tech company, to detect discrepancies early before installation. This ultimately prevented delays and costly rework. The team also used Suffolk’s Plan + Control process to merge drawing sets into a coordinated model, identifying issues before work began.

Suffolk used Procore’s project management software for all filing and financial processing, RFIs and documentation, and OpenSpace to provide a visual record of construction progress from demo through close-out. The contractor also installed WINT, a smart water monitoring system, to flag leaks and prevent costly water damage.

The hotel portion of the Waldorf Astoria is scheduled to reopen in 2025, with the residential side following in 2026. The project has been a true once-in-a-lifetime job for all involved, as Carmine Favia, general superintendent at Suffolk, noted: “Honestly, I don’t think ever in my life again, or anyone else, will ever do something like this in their lifetime.”

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