The Plaza Hotel in New York City announced plans to close for at least four years beginning in January 2027 to repair and restore its landmark-protected facade, the hotel said Wednesday.
The hotel said the closure is necessary because the facade project is broad and intricate, and because it would significantly intrude on operations. The work will need careful advance planning, input from stakeholders and compliance with historic preservation rules, the hotel said. It added that additional factors in how the project is planned and carried out are still being assessed.
The Plaza opened in 1907. The hotel said the project reflects how hard it is to look after a building with so much architectural and historical importance, and that it is balancing preservation rules, the structure's lasting upkeep and the safety of guests, staff and the surrounding community.
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts operates the 18-story Midtown Manhattan building, according to ABC News.
The announcement did not include the cost of the project or a list of specific renovations, according to CBS News.
The city Department of Buildings said the hotel's latest inspection deemed the facade unsafe, which is the reason a sidewalk shed must stand around the building, according to CBS News. The department also told CBS News that the city imposes no barrier to the hotel continuing to operate throughout the repairs.
Some residents have full-time homes at the hotel, and it remains uncertain if the closure will touch them, according to CBS News.
The Plaza has closed for major work before. According to CBS News, it was shuttered between 2005 and 2008 during a $450 million overhaul that covered the building from lobby to roof, and it also closed for more than a year in 2020.
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