Waldorf Astoria's Historic $2B Overhaul Enters Final Phase Under Suffolk’s Lead

A beam that was expected to measure one foot in width turned out to be three—a surprise that early on revealed the unpredictable nature of the $2 billion transformation underway at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

The iconic Manhattan hotel, which closed in 2017, is undergoing a comprehensive renovation aimed at converting part of the building into high-end condominiums while meticulously restoring its celebrated public spaces. Suffolk, the Boston-based general contractor helming the project, is advancing toward completing the hotel component later this year.

The firm tackled structural reinforcements, utility system upgrades, and intricate restoration work within the 1931 landmark, originally developed by the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Company. Suffolk replaced aging beams and outdated infrastructure hidden within the walls and beneath the floors—some of which didn’t align with current building codes.

“What really made this stand out from the rest is it wasn’t just construction or new construction, but the fact that it was a renovation job with a historical landmark aspect to it,” said Carmine Favia, general superintendent at Suffolk. “A lot of it was as it came along, one bite at a time.”

To manage the scale of the job, Suffolk divided its work across three major project streams—residential, hotel, and core infrastructure—with dedicated leadership for each. A fourth executive oversaw the entire operation to ensure smooth coordination, according to Kevin Mangan, Suffolk’s project executive.

One of the biggest challenges Suffolk faced was marrying modern amenities with the building’s legacy aesthetics. The company took great care to preserve original design elements by cataloging and storing components like decorative plaster, custom millwork, and historical metal and stone features in temperature-controlled storage facilities.

For fragile components that couldn’t be salvaged, craftsmen created molds and replications, while artisans applied gold leaf and silver paper to bring various spaces back to their original grandeur.

Among the most striking areas is the Silver Corridor, which Favia called one of the renovation’s “crown jewels.” Nearby, original murals that once adorned the former Waldorf near the Empire State Building have been painstakingly reinstalled. Workers also reopened the Basildon courtyard by removing a later-added mechanical room, restoring the area to its 1920s configuration.

“It looks good on paper, but when you actually go put it in, it’s actually 10 times harder,” said Favia. “Some of these walls are 20 feet tall, made out of terracotta block, and you’re wondering how they’re still standing after all these years.”

The construction team encountered unconventional materials used in the building’s early 20th-century construction, including floor slabs made from cinder blocks, terracotta, and chicken wire embedded in ash concrete—rather than today’s steel-reinforced concrete.

To bridge the gap between past and present, Suffolk employed advanced technology to plan and execute the work. Laser scanning software from Planit enabled accurate detection of spatial irregularities before installation began, reducing the risk of costly changes.

“It’s used for mechanical coordination, and it’s used for layout, and it helps us try to identify constraints and conflicts that you wouldn’t necessarily get in traditional,” said Mangan. “You solve a large majority of the problems before you actually start on the floor.”

Suffolk also utilized its proprietary Plan + Control process to synchronize drawing sets into a unified model. Procore software handled financials and documentation, while OpenSpace captured visual records throughout the project lifecycle. Additionally, WINT’s water monitoring tech helped detect potential leaks and mitigate water damage.

Now surrounded by scaffolding, the building’s pinnacle is undergoing finishing touches. According to Mangan, the hotel is on track to reopen by the end of 2025, with the luxury condominiums following in 2026.

“Honestly, I don’t think ever in my life again, or anyone else, will ever do something like this in their lifetime,” said Favia. “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime job for all of us.”
The Waldorf Astoria renovation is among the most complex restorations currently underway in the U.S., blending historical stewardship with 21st-century construction methods. Originally known for hosting presidents, celebrities, and royalty, the building’s new incarnation aims to preserve its legacy while positioning it for the next century. Suffolk’s integrated technology and team-based approach are being watched closely across the industry as a model for how to handle landmark retrofits on a grand scale.

Originally reported by Sebastian Obando in Construction Dive.