Luxury HotelsDirectoryBeach ResortsBoutiqueParisLondonNew YorkTokyoLuxury HotelsDirectoryBeach ResortsBoutiqueParisLondonNew YorkTokyo
W Hotels, New York occupies a historic landmark building at the northeast corner of Park Avenue South and 17th Street, directly across from Union Square in Manhattan. The 21-story Beaux-Arts property was originally built in 1911 as the Germania Life Insurance Company headquarters and is one of the few remaining major insurance company structures in the city. Today, the hotel combines its architectural heritage with modern hospitality in one of Manhattan's most vibrant neighborhoods.
Check availability Official websiteThe hotel sits at the northeast corner of Park Avenue South and 17th Street, with Union Square directly across from its main entrance. This central Manhattan location places guests within walking distance of major shopping, dining, and cultural attractions. The immediate neighborhood includes historic landmarks such as the former Tammany Hall building at 44 Union Square to the south and the Everett Building across Park Avenue to the west.
The building's site measures 80 feet along Park Avenue South and 115 feet along 17th Street. Its corner location provides multiple points of access and excellent orientation for arriving guests. The surrounding area features a mix of historic rowhouses, the Guardian Life annex (a four-story International Style addition completed in 1961), and various commercial structures, creating a distinctive and landmark-rich urban setting.
The building was designed by architects Albert D'Oench and Joseph W. Yost and completed in 1911 in the Beaux-Arts style. It originally served as the headquarters of the Germania Life Insurance Company and was renamed the Guardian Life Insurance Company Building in 1917. The structure remained an insurance office until Guardian Life moved out in 1999, after which it underwent conversion into a hotel.
The 21-story building rises 290 feet above ground level and features a distinctive four-story mansard roof. Its facade is composed primarily of gray Concord granite interspersed with brick, accented by a red Numidian-granite water table and red Spanish-tile mansard roof. The ground floor features rusticated arches with foliate keystones, while upper floors showcase uniform fenestration and stone balconies on the fourth floor, with decorative keystones and garlands adorning the mansard roof.
The main building was designated a New York City landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1988 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. These designations recognize the structure's architectural and historical significance as one of the few surviving major insurance company headquarters in New York City. The building's U-shaped footprint, created by a north-side light court, exemplifies thoughtful Beaux-Arts design that maximizes natural light to interior spaces.
The interior structure is supported by steel plate girders below the fourth floor, with 24-inch I-beams used above, combined with curtain wall elements. Two basement levels extend below ground, and a mezzanine is situated between the second and third floors. This blend of historic exterior architecture with modern structural systems allows the hotel to serve contemporary guests while respecting the building's landmark status and heritage.
W Hotels, New York is located at the northeast corner of Park Avenue South and 17th Street in Manhattan, directly across from Union Square. This central location puts the hotel within walking distance of major Manhattan attractions and transit.
The hotel is positioned in one of Manhattan's most vibrant neighborhoods at the edge of Union Square. The area features historic landmarks including the former Tammany Hall building and the Everett Building, along with extensive shopping, dining, and cultural venues.
Built in 1911 as the Germania Life Insurance Company headquarters, the building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Albert D'Oench and Joseph W. Yost. It was designated as a New York City landmark in 1988 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, representing one of the few surviving major insurance company headquarters in the city.
The 21-story Beaux-Arts building rises 290 feet and features a distinctive four-story mansard roof. The facade uses gray Concord granite with brick, accented by a red Numidian-granite water table and red Spanish-tile roof. Decorative elements include rusticated ground-floor arches with foliate keystones and stone balconies on the fourth floor.
W Hotels, New York is a 270-room boutique hotel located within the historic 21-story building.
Yes. The hotel maintains its landmark status through the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and National Register listing. Modern structural systems, including steel support and curtain walls, work beneath the preserved Beaux-Arts exterior, balancing contemporary hospitality with architectural heritage.
Back to the W Hotels, New York overview for photos, map, address and verification, or see the full guide above.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
No prices or ratings: rates change daily. We may earn a commission from partner links.