New York Marriott Marquis

The New York Marriott Marquis is a prominent Marriott hotel in Times Square, in Manhattan’s Theater District. Located at 1535 Broadway between West 45th and West 46th Streets, the property combines nearly two thousand guestrooms with extensive convention facilities, restaurants, public circulation spaces, retail areas, and the Marquis Theatre. Marriott International operates the hotel as part of its Marriott Marquis portfolio, while the property has been associated with Host Hotels & Resorts as its owner. The building was designed by architect John C. Portman Jr. and is notable both as a major Times Square hotel and as one of New York’s most distinctive large-scale urban hospitality projects of the late twentieth century. The hotel’s development was closely tied to the redevelopment of Times Square. The site had previously contained five historic theaters—the original Helen Hayes, Morosco, Bijou, Astor, and Gaiety theaters, the last later known as the Victoria. Plans for a hotel were announced in the early 1970s, but the project was delayed by New York City’s fiscal crisis and then became the focus of preservation disputes, lawsuits, and protests over the proposed demolition of the theaters. Development resumed under Mayor Ed Koch, and construction began in 1982 after the project’s original association with Westin had been replaced by Marriott. The hotel opened on September 3, 1985. Portman’s design organizes the building into two wings along 45th and 46th Streets, joined by a broad podium. The street levels include retail and public circulation, while the Marquis Theatre occupies the third floor. The principal hotel lobby is unusually located on the eighth floor, where guests enter a large planted atrium that rises through much of the building. Guestrooms occupy the upper levels around the atrium, and the building’s freestanding rounded elevator core places glass elevator cars visibly within the interior volume. The tower rises approximately 574 feet and contains 51 stories, although the hotel’s upper floor numbering does not correspond directly to the full structural height. The property has approximately 1,966 to 1,971 rooms, depending on the source and date of measurement, and about 101,000 square feet of meeting space. Its hospitality offer is directed at business travelers, convention groups, tourists, theater audiences, and visitors seeking a central Times Square location. Facilities have included large ballrooms, meeting rooms, restaurants, lounges, a business-oriented members’ club, and the revolving View restaurant and cocktail lounge near the top of the building. The hotel’s elevated lobby and restaurants provide views over Times Square and the surrounding Theater District. The New York Marriott Marquis has changed repeatedly since opening. Its public spaces, guest facilities, elevator systems, signs, and street-level configuration have been renovated or modified. In the 2010s, portions of the lower-level configuration were rebuilt to create taller public spaces, while the Times Square frontage gained a much larger electronic display. The hotel’s prominent sign system became part of the visual identity of the surrounding square, including an earlier Kodak display and a later Mitsubishi Electric screen extending across the Broadway facade. Marriott acquired the minority interest held by Portman in 1993 and acquired the underlying site in 2013, according to the cited reference material. By the late 1990s, the property was described as one of the most profitable hotels in Marriott’s chain. It remains an active, high-capacity convention and tourism hotel and a major architectural presence in Times Square.

The New York Marriott Marquis emerged from a long and contested attempt to redevelop a large block in Times Square. Real-estate agent Peter Sharp acquired the site in the 1960s with the intention of constructing an office building. A hotel proposal was announced in 1972 and detailed plans followed in 1973. The project was postponed after New York City’s fiscal crisis in 1975, but it was revived in the late 1970s during the administration of Mayor Ed Koch. The proposed development generated substantial opposition because the site contained five historic theaters: the original Helen Hayes, Morosco, Bijou, Astor, and Gaiety, later called the Victoria. Preservationists and other opponents challenged the demolition plans through protests and lawsuits. These disputes delayed the start of construction until 1982. The project was initially connected with Westin, but Marriott replaced Westin before construction began. John C. Portman Jr. designed the hotel, which was conceived as a mixed hospitality and entertainment complex rather than a conventional street-level hotel. The completed building opened on September 3, 1985. Its architecture reflected Portman’s signature interest in large interior volumes: the lobby was placed on the eighth floor, and a planted atrium extended upward through the guestroom levels. Two street-facing wings were linked by a podium containing retail, meeting, circulation, and theater functions. The Marquis Theatre occupied the third floor, while the upper levels accommodated guestrooms and the high-level View restaurant and revolving lounge. A rounded, freestanding concrete elevator core with externally visible glass cars became one of the building’s most recognizable interior features. The development also involved zoning incentives and public-space obligations. Floor-area bonuses helped make the project possible, with the theater contributing to the additional permitted floor area. Passageways and a driveway were incorporated into the base, and the hotel’s Broadway frontage was designed as part of the changing pedestrian and commercial environment of Times Square. The relationship between the hotel, public space, theater infrastructure, and advertising facade made the property an unusually integrated urban complex. During the late 1980s and 1990s, the hotel became an important convention and tourism property and was described by the cited material as one of Marriott’s most profitable hotels by the end of the 1990s. Marriott bought Portman’s minority stake in 1993. In 2013, Marriott acquired the underlying site, further consolidating its control over the property’s real-estate position. The building and its systems have been adapted over time. The original Kodak-sponsored Kodarama sign was enlarged in 1999, and the facade later received a much larger electronic display in 2014. Lower-level and public-area modifications in the 2010s created taller spaces, while the elevator destination-dispatch system, first completed in 2006, was modernized in 2019. A later renovation relocated reception desks within the atrium lobby, introduced new architectural finishes, and added an acrylic sculpture in 2022. The hotel continues to operate as a major Marriott Marquis property serving visitors, theatergoers, convention groups, and corporate events in Midtown Manhattan.

• 2022

  Lobby sculpture installed

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  An acrylic sculpture by Parachilna was added to the renovated lobby environment.

• 2019

  Elevator system modernized

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  The destination-dispatch elevator system was modernized.

• 2014

  Large electronic sign installed

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  A 330-by-78-foot Mitsubishi Electric display was installed along the Broadway frontage and adjoining streets.

• 2013

  Underlying site acquired

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  Marriott acquired the underlying land interest associated with the hotel.

• 1999

  Kodak display enlarged

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel’s Kodak-sponsored Broadway display was expanded into a much larger multi-part sign.

• 1993

  Marriott buys Portman stake

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  Marriott acquired John C. Portman Jr.’s minority ownership interest.

• 1985

  Hotel opens

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  The New York Marriott Marquis opened on September 3 in Times Square.

• 1982

  Construction begins

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  After preservation disputes, lawsuits, and protests, construction finally began.

• 1975

  Project delayed by fiscal crisis

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  New York City’s fiscal crisis contributed to the postponement of the hotel project.

• 1973

  Official plans released

  [1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  Detailed plans for the proposed hotel were released, establishing the project’s broad form and program.

Showing the 10 most recent.

Upscale, high-capacity business, convention, theater, and tourism hotel in the center of Times Square.

• Accommodation · 1985

  Guestrooms and suites

  The hotel provides approximately 1,966 to 1,971 rooms, depending on the source and reporting date. The rooms occupy the upper portions of the tower and are organized around the building’s tall central atrium, with many offering views toward Times Square or the surrounding Midtown skyline.

• Hospitality services · 1985

  Meetings and events

  With approximately 101,000 square feet of meeting space, the property serves conventions, corporate meetings, banquets, receptions, and large social events. Its event infrastructure includes ballrooms and meeting rooms distributed through the podium and upper public areas.

• Restaurant and lounge · 1985

  The View

  The View is the hotel’s high-level revolving restaurant and cocktail-lounge complex. Located near the top of the building, it is known for panoramic views created by the rotation of the dining and lounge space above the atrium.

• Theater venue · 1985

  Marquis Theatre

  The Marquis Theatre occupies the third floor of the hotel building. Its inclusion was part of the development’s zoning and public-benefit structure and made the hotel a combined lodging, entertainment, and commercial complex.

• Food and beverage

  Revel & Rye Bar and Restaurant

  Revel & Rye is an eighth-floor restaurant and bar associated with the renovated atrium-level public areas. Its design includes a gold-colored ceiling and rows of decorative lighting.

• Lounge and restaurant

  Broadway Lounge

  The Broadway Lounge is an adjoining public dining and lounge space serving food inspired by New York food-truck culture. Its interior includes chandeliers modeled on the Times Square Ball.

• Members’ lounge

  M Club

  The M Club is a roughly 200-seat members’ lounge with business-center and library functions, designed for guests seeking a quieter work and meeting environment within the large hotel.

• Controversy over demolition of historic theaters

  The hotel’s development was opposed by preservationists and other groups because construction required the destruction of five historic theaters on the site. Protests and lawsuits delayed the project, although the cited material does not identify a later legal finding of wrongdoing by the hotel.

  Source

Read more

• 2019

  Modernize destination-dispatch elevatorsOther

  Background

  The hotel’s destination-dispatch elevator arrangement had been completed in 2006.

  Action taken

  The elevator system was modernized to improve the handling of guest traffic through the high-rise atrium hotel.

  Aftermath

  The system remained part of the hotel’s distinctive vertical-transportation design.

  Source

• 2014

  Replace the facade advertising systemOther

  Background

  The hotel’s Broadway facade had long carried prominent commercial signs, including the Kodak Kodarama display.

  Action taken

  A large Mitsubishi Electric electronic screen was installed across the block-long Broadway frontage and wrapped toward the side streets.

  Aftermath

  The property gained one of Times Square’s most prominent digital advertising surfaces.

  Source

• 1993

  Consolidate ownership by buying Portman’s stakeM&A

  Background

  The hotel had been developed through an association between Marriott and architect John C. Portman Jr.

  Action taken

  Marriott acquired Portman’s minority ownership interest.

  Aftermath

  Marriott obtained greater control over the property and its operating relationship.

  Source

• 1982

  Revive the Times Square hotel projectStrategy

  Background

  The proposed hotel had been delayed by New York City’s fiscal crisis and faced opposition related to the demolition of historic theaters.

  Action taken

  The development was revived under Mayor Ed Koch, construction commenced, and Marriott replaced Westin as the hotel operator and development partner before building began.

  Aftermath

  The property opened in 1985 as a major hotel and entertainment complex in Times Square.

  Source

• 2019

  Elevator destination-dispatch system modernized[1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The hotel modernized its destination-dispatch elevator system, originally completed in 2006.

• 2014

  Times Square electronic facade display installed[1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product launch

  A large Mitsubishi Electric electronic display was installed across the Broadway facade and wrapped toward 45th and 46th Streets.

• 2013

  Marriott acquires the underlying Times Square site[1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Marriott acquired the underlying property interest associated with the hotel site.

• 1993

  Marriott acquires Portman’s minority interest[1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Marriott bought out architect John C. Portman Jr.’s minority ownership stake in the hotel venture.

• 1985

  New York Marriott Marquis opens in Times Square[1]New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product launch

  The hotel opened on September 3, 1985, introducing Marriott’s large-scale Marquis property to the redeveloped Times Square district.

1. 1New York Marriott Marquisen.wikipedia.org