InterContinental Barclay Hotel

When redesigning the InterContinental Barclay Hotel in Manhattan, originally built in 1926, the goal was an update that celebrated the hotel’s storied past. Elements like birds and the letter B are nods to history and the building itself— in these cases the capital B for “Barclay” on the building’s cornice and the fact that the lobby once featured a birdcage with some 200 birds in it. But the redesign also proves that the historic and the modern don’t have to be at odds, and in fact complement one another beautifully.

The overall inspiration was the Federal Style, prominent in the U.S. from the 1780s to 1840s, but with the bright, clear lighting that brings the stately style into the 21st century. To achieve this, a fully luminous ceiling was installed, using Nanometer’s NanoBoard fixtures in Tunable White at a high output, while architectural elements created the illusion of a massive skylight for a sunny but soothing atmosphere inside.

The NanoBoard fixtures are pendant mounted and feature a special diffuser pre-attached to the back plate to ensure homogenous luminosity. Then, Bendheim provided laminated glass in a combination of textures that evokes the feeling of historic, handmade glass. The glass further diffuses the LED lighting for a clear, even brightness that allows visitors to fully appreciate the intricacies and design details of the space.

Additional decorative elements on the ceiling panels evoke early American art and the Federalist Style decor found throughout the hotel.