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Grand splendor and a contemporary chic look were key ingredients used to create the custom architectural lighting fixtures for the William Vale Hotel, which is located at 55 Wythe Ave. in the North Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY. The new facility features 183 rooms, on 21 stories, that offer unparalleled views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. 2nd Ave Lighting was proud to design and engineer custom lighting fixtures to accommodate the specifications of this challenging project.
The project was championed by Benzi Herbst, Purchasing Executive of Riverside Developers USA, a building and development firm, which is also based in Brooklyn. The multi-use building was designed by Aldo Lamberis, with interiors designed by Studio Munge, and landscape design by Gunn Landscape Architecture.
The interiors were designed by Toronto-based Studio Munge, which is guided by a passion for great design, inspired by excellence and committed to exceptional service. Creative leadership is what informs and inspires its multidisciplinary team to produce distinctive, transformative design. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Principal Alessandro Munge’s global perspective, inquisitive nature and quest for the perfect solution has propelled Studio Munge onto the international stage with a global roster of top hospitality brands, luxury residential developers, and architects.
With the assistance of naval architects and engineers that developed viable technology, the hotel filters 600,000 gallons of East River water daily through a plus-sign-shaped pool, which at 60 feet is New York City’s longest outdoor hotel swimming pool, before it’s redistributed back into the waterway.
“The developers and design partners were all aligned; The William Vale had to represent a new generation of thinking and showcase the very best Brooklyn had to offer,” said Maxime Bocken, Creative Brand Director for Studio Munge. “To infuse the brave new build with the soul and passion Williamsburg is known for, we commissioned highly qualified Brooklyn based artists, craftsmen and manufacturer such as 2nd Ave Lighting. By doing so we challenged and empowered the local community to create history rather than unauthentically attempt to mirror the iconic warehouse surroundings. The William Vale was born.”
From custom metalwork details in the guest rooms to the signature style of hospitality, William Vale provides stunning views of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. The hotel’s shimmering white marble lobby, complete with a large-scale Marela Zacarias installation, and its 15,000-square-foot rooftop to relay some of the first images of the Vale's indoor and outdoor spaces, features 2nd Ave’s stunning grand-styled Isotope Chandelier (174928), which is 18-feet wide and over seven feet tall. This sophisticated chandelier displays a dazzling architectural array of transverse steel spars, bridled in various wingspans to showcase Contrail Mist Idalight diffusers.
In the presidential suite is the 27.5"W Conglomerate Chandelier (174929), which blends art deco charm with impeccable industrial functionality. 12 hollow conduits constructed of structural steel and architectural glass articulate a chic aesthetic that will add character to any space with ambient illumination. Connected by rail styled cable, this American artisan-crafted, uncompromising modern marvel of engineering and design offers an illuminated composition with customizable elements that allow for unlimited creativity and visual identity.
Inside the rooftop restaurant are three 2nd Ave Lighting products. The 411-inch Grand Illumina Bola Oblong Chandelier (175773) is designed with milky orbs that glint with glow among a labyrinth of downlight functionality as this ebulliently bespoke 34-foot chandelier articulates pure drama and youthful urban sensibility. Rendering a refined organic abstract for a highly polished look and signature eclectic aesthetic, Grand Illumina yields an arresting modern mix of glass and steel that conveys a cross-disciplinary culture of mid-century modern design, employing quintessential panache and pattern-centric punch.
The rooftop bar also is highlighted with a 284-inch Grand Mur Stained Glass Window (179839), a room divider featuring a geometric jigsaw of architectural glass transformed into a ravishing abstract expressionist piece of art. A grand room divider, which actually bridges the decor in this large modern space, Grand Mur entices the eye with aesthetic details at every turn, invigorating visual appeal and glamour. Employing an Azure palette, this sculptural mosaic masterpiece captures the wow factor while embodying a style that is as rich and dramatic as the facility’s architecture and artistry.
Also installed at the rooftop bar is the 24-inch Spaccato Oblong Pendant (175788), a unique aluminum shade with a cutaway profile that reveals a contemporary, industrial style featuring a Matte Black finish on the exterior and an Antique Copper finished interior for exceptional aesthetics. A counterbalanced arm suspended from the ceiling support helps deliver ambient illumination from a White Glass globe lamp. The arm and additional hardware are featured in a Matte Black finish.
