Marriott World Trade Center

Marriott World Trade Center was a 22-story hotel located in the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, near the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades. The hotel was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and developed by Marriott International in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with Larry Silverstein as the leaseholder. The hotel was connected to the North Tower and South Tower of the World Trade Center via a skybridge, providing easy access to the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and other nearby landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

● History

The Marriott World Trade Center was opened in 1981, with Marriott International as the operator, and was one of the first hotels to be built in the World Trade Center complex, along with the Windows on the World restaurant, which was located on the top floor of the North Tower. The hotel was popular among business travelers and tourists alike, offering stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The hotel was also close to other notable landmarks like the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, One World Trade Center, and the Brooklyn Bridge. During its operation, the hotel hosted many notable events and conferences, including meetings of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank, as well as events featuring prominent figures like Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush.

● Design and Construction

The Marriott World Trade Center was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in the International Style architecture, with a steel and glass façade, and was built by Turner Construction, with Tishman Realty & Construction as the construction manager. The hotel's design was influenced by the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, and featured a distinctive atrium lobby with a large skylight, similar to the Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The hotel's construction was a complex process, involving the excavation of a large site and the use of advanced engineering techniques, including those developed by Robert Moses and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. The hotel's design and construction were also influenced by the work of other notable architects and engineers, including I.M. Pei, Frank Gehry, and Santiago Calatrava.

● Features and Amenities

The Marriott World Trade Center offered a range of amenities and services to its guests, including a fitness center, business center, and several restaurants and bars, including the River Run restaurant and the Times Square-themed Revue bar. The hotel also featured a large ballroom and several meeting rooms, making it a popular venue for conferences and events, including those hosted by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Partnership for New York City. The hotel's guests could also access the nearby World Financial Center, Brookfield Place, and the New York Stock Exchange, as well as other attractions like the Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the American Museum of Natural History. The hotel was also close to other notable hotels, including the Waldorf Astoria New York, Plaza Hotel, and the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park.

● Destruction and Aftermath

The Marriott World Trade Center was severely damaged on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, causing significant damage to the hotel and resulting in the deaths of 40 hotel guests and staff, including Marriott International employees and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey personnel. The hotel was later destroyed when the South Tower collapsed, with the debris causing further damage to the surrounding area, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office and the New York City Police Department's 1st Precinct. The destruction of the hotel was a significant loss for the city, and it had a major impact on the New York City hospitality industry, with many hotels, including the Marriott Marquis, Hilton New York, and the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, providing support and accommodations to those affected by the disaster.

● Legacy

The Marriott World Trade Center was rebuilt and reopened in 2002 as the New York Marriott Downtown, with a new design and amenities, including a rooftop bar with views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York Harbor. The new hotel was designed by Gensler and developed by Marriott International in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with Silverstein Properties as the leaseholder. The hotel's legacy continues to be felt in the city, with many remembering it as a symbol of the World Trade Center's resilience and determination, and its rebuilding serving as a testament to the city's ability to recover and rebuild after tragedy, with the support of organizations like the September 11th Fund, the American Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The hotel's story has also been featured in several documentarys and films, including Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, and has been the subject of numerous books and articles, including those by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine.

Category:Hotels in New York City