An impressive mid-rise hotel, the Ace Hotel Brooklyn displays a concrete Brutalist-inspired structure and is punctuated by gridded, multi-pane windows, reflecting the industrialist grit and creative energy of the borough's varied neighborhoods. The 13-story property is located at the burgeoning intersection of Boerum Hill and downtown Brooklyn, crossing paths with the tree-lined streets and brownstones of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, the art and culture of Fort Greene, and the views of the scenic East River. The overarching design concept for the hotel draws inspiration from the juxtaposition of industrial and residential surroundings, as well as the feat of its execution atop a subway station. The property includes 287 guest rooms, an elevated art program, a public lobby with multiple bars and an art gallery, along with additional food and beverage spaces. Serving as the Architect of Record, Stonehill Taylor built the hotel with metal, glass, and precast concrete elements, while the building's rough-edged facade designed by the Architectural Designer and Interior Designer, Roman and Williams, celebrates the natural beauty of its materials. A custom ceramic mural crafted by iconic modernist Stan Bitters is the facade’s centerpiece and is beautifully accompanied with a sculptural light installation also designed by Roman and Williams. The unique facade seamlessly blends with the interiors. Situated at the top of a subway tunnel, the exposed concrete building features an interior spring garden. Throughout the hotel’s interiors, exposed concrete and other naturally textural elements create organic, open shapes for a sleek design. The lobby features vintage and custom seating, with half-moon windows allowing for natural light to beam through illuminating the space. Creating a sophisticated atmosphere, the bar is finished with an original wall sculpture from RW Guild artist Verdan Jakšić and a discreet, large-scale drawing by Tara Greer. Artwork is carried into the guest rooms, which are elegant and feature furnishings that are handcrafted from raw, understated materials. The architecture team overcame unique challenges posed by the site through creative thinking and clever building techniques. These challenges include the location of an MTA subway tunnel beneath the property and the requirement to limit tunnel vibrations into the hotel’s guest rooms. The constraints limited the location of the building core and required structural isolation within the concrete structural frame. By collaborating with the structural engineer, the acoustic consultants, and the interior architecture and design teams, Stonehill Taylor came up with the solution of using a Natural Rubber Building Vibration Isolation system.
Stonehill Taylor is a hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm, which takes a contextual approach to designing destinations. Stonehill Taylor-designed hotels are inspired and distinct reflections on each project's location, space, history, and culture. The firm's distinguished portfolio of hotels from across the United States includes: TWA Hotel, Ace Hotel New York and Brooklyn, the Graduate Hotel Roosevelt Island, Renaissance New York Chelsea, The Industrialist Hotel in Pittsburgh, and the Limelight resorts in Snowmass and Aspen. Stonehill Taylor is at the forefront of sustainable design, developing projects that are conscious of their impact on local communities and the world such as The Crosby Street Hotel and The NoMad Hotel. Among the renowned hospitality brands and developers with which the firm has worked are GFI Capital, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Firmdale Hotels, Marriott International, and the Sydell Group.