Park Lane Hotel (New York City, New York) | skyscraper

 hotel, skyscraper

449-foot, 46-story hotel completed in 1971. Designed by Emery Roth & Sons, it was known until 2013 as the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, owned by "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley, and was the site of her house arrest after she was released from her tax-evasion prison sentence. Previously, Ethel Merman lived at this address in the 1960s. A supertall skyscraper has been planned for the site, though that has been placed on hold.

The hotel is composed of a vertical slab rising above a two-story, L-shaped base, and is clad in limestone. The main north facade of the tower has five bays of tripartite windows with black metal spandrels between floors at each bay, ending in arches at the top floor. The south elevation has two facades, following the L shape, with one extending back through the block to 58th Street; both have three bays of tripartite windows matching the front facade.

The east elevation has only two narrow window bays south of center, also running the full height of the tower and ending in arches. Due to the L shape, the west facade is also broken into two masses, with the set-back southern one having four windows bays near the junction of the wings, and the northern one having no openings except for a few random windows at the top floor. The hotel contains 628 guest rooms.

www.parklanenewyork.com/