I am very excited to report that we are experiencing a tremendous growth spurt in our design studio. Below are developments on our current projects and exciting news on what we are just starting.
Spa by Ivanka Trump
We’re working on a flagship new project at the historic post office in Washington, DC. This spa will be a prototype introducing her unique positioning within spa and wellness. Managed by WTS International, it will be rolled out in the Trump collection of existing hotels and her prospective properties.
The hotel is under construction, with the completion and opening of the project anticipated before the elections.
Ivanka has mandated that this be a game-changing wellness project establishing a new benchmark for the wellness industry. Toward that end, we will introduce some new programs and spa experiences for the U.S. hotel guest.
Governors Island
Another critical project is Governors Island with QC Terme, which we introduced last year in our blog “It’s New. It’s Exciting. It’s Governors Island!”. We are acting as the Architect of Record in collaboration with QC Terme’s in-house design group in Milan.
QC Terme Group is an international conglomerate out of Milan, Italy. They currently have nine operating projects, with another three opening within the next two years. We will be opening a 74,000-square-foot campus of 3 buildings with indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools adding another 20,000 sqft of space, providing an unparalleled European spa experience for guests. Guests will arrive via a wooden Italian water taxi that passes the Statue of Liberty on the way to the island.
QC Terme will bring a luxurious European wellness experience to the U.S. Governors Island will offer both co-ed experiences and more private gender-specific areas in the outdoor pools, indoor pools, and relaxation areas.
The Governors Island project is meant to be “inclusive versus exclusive”. It will offer an affordable “day fee” package for guests and visitors, who will then have access to all the facilities for 24 hours. Mayor Bloomberg selected this plan from 20 competing projects; it also goes along with the current Mayor DeBlasio’s social agenda: for Governors Island to be a recreational experience for all New Yorkers.
Mandarin Oriental New York
We are very excited to announce that we have been chosen by for Mandarin Oriental New York to revitalize their spa at Columbus Circle. We will be upgrading their current facility with a dramatic new aquatic experience, along with a spa and fitness area. We are honoured to work with the Mandarin Oriental team on this Signature property; we will enhance their wellness brand and design a new benchmark for the hotel spa segment.
So that is an overview of our current and new wellness projects. The Mandarin Oriental is supremely big news for us, as we’ve been pursuing this project for the last seven years.
Robert Henry- Wellness Projects
roberthenry@rdh-architects.com
www.rdh-architects.com
212.533.4145
