What was originally going to be Six Senses New York has now become Faena New York at One High Line after the original developers ran into financial difficulties.
New owners
First announced in 2016, the initial plan called for IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury Six Senses brand to occupy 10 floors in the east tower of the double twisting skyscraper XI development, located in The Big Apple’s Chelsea neighbourhood, in the south west of Manhattan.
However, last year, developer HFZ Capital Group had to foreclose on the mixed-use site. US-based real estate firm Witkoff Group then acquired the development for a reported US$900 million, partnering with Access Industries and Monroe Capital to see it through to completion.
Brand switch
The new backers renamed the twin towers as One High Line, and signed a deal with Accor partner brand Faena to bring the luxury line’s third site online, following Faena Buenos Aires and Faena District Miami Beach.
Originally, the project was due to complete in spring 2019, but due to repeated delays thanks to the financial problems, the pandemic and then the ownership switch, opening is now scheduled for Q4 2023. Construction is progressing apace on the 36- and 26-storey high-rises, with Suffolk Construction now leading the build, taking over from Omnibuild.
Design retention
However, Witkoff kept all the original design team onboard, with architect Bjarke Ingels, founder of design practice BIG, responsible for the architecture.
Parisian design firm Gilles & Boissier crafted the interiors for the east tower, including the hotel, while Gabellini Sheppard worked on the interiors of the west tower and the amenities podium. Enea Garden Design NY created the landscape design.
Hotel specifications
With the rest of the shorter east tower comprising 87 residences, the space allocated to Faena New York at One High Line will be home to 120 rooms and suites, each boasting views of the Hudson River or downtown Manhattan.
Amenities will include innovative culinary concepts at a 5,000-sq-ft restaurant helmed by a renowned celebrity chef, while the onsite spa, Tierra Santa Healing House, will extend across 17,000 sq ft.
The tower will also house nightlife venue The Living Room, an elevated setting with live entertainment, private dining, and outdoor terraces.
Further Faena
The fourth global Faena site will follow in Q3 2024, situated on the southern side of hub island, Shura, in Saudi Arabia. Faena The Red Sea will be part of Red Sea Global’s Red Sea Development Project and feature 150 suites and villas with a private pool and ocean views, as well as an 84 sq m Executive Suite. The accommodation also encompasses seven villas, including six three-bedroom Presidential Pool Villas and a four-bedroom Royal Pool Villa.
Amenities will include six food and beverage offerings, Tierra Santa Healing House holistic therapy centre and South American-inspired spa, and a live entertainment centre called The Living Room.
