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Breakfast area offers cereals, juices, coffee, waffle makers, fruit and hot food
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"in cities obtaining sites for hotels is problematic leading to a range of approaches to solving the problems of finding tourist beds, from the ‘pod’ concept...through to conversions of office blocks"
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Other than a couple of large mats on the marble floor, and a more intensive cleaning regime in the lobby, the snow didn’t seem to present the Wingate any particular problems. In fact despite the television news and the parking issues, New York was wrapped up warm and proceeding with life as normal, much as London does in adverse weather.
Situated one block behind Macy’s, the Wingate is well located for the shopaholic, and the site is the main constraint on the design. Inevitably in cities obtaining sites for hotels is problematic leading to a range of approaches to solving the problems of finding tourist beds, from the ‘pod’ concept characterised by the City Hotels ‘nitenite’ chain, currently scouting for sites in New York, through to conversions of office blocks.
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Breakfast area copes with guest numbers even with a school party in full flight
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Typical corridor scheme showing lift access
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Here the owners have succeeded in creating a new build for Wingate’s first New York City property, and it has many similarities with the previously reviewed Four Points on W 33rd Street, two blocks away (see Four Points by Sheraton). Both are constrained by the narrow sites and both opt for a similar floor plan and layout.
The small footprint not only restricts the floor plan at reception level but also dictates the layout of the building, with the emergency staircases and lift shafts being the determinants of the spatial layout on the bedroom floors.
Floor area for the public areas is adequate, with the basement providing a small gym area and business rooms, and the first floor mezzanine providing informal meeting space and lounge for guests.Compact though the plan is, all the areas function well and the 92 bedrooms are well planned and feel generous in size. All are air conditioned and there is a mix of doubles, ‘double doubles’ and disabled rooms as well as a suite.
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Wingate Inn
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