Lego-like Radio Hotel and Tower opens in Washington Heights

Washington Heights’ first-ever full-service boutique hotel is now open. Located at 2420 Amsterdam Avenue at the foot of the Washington Bridge, the colorful Radio Hotel and Tower was designed by Dutch firm MVRDV, with Stonehill Taylor as the architect of record, to “stand out at the entrance of Manhattan.” The 23-story mixed-use building contains a 221-room hotel, ground-floor retail, office space, a Santo Domingo-inspired restaurant, and a rooftop lounge with 360-degree views.

The city approved the 220,000-square-foot structure in April 2017, and construction began in November 2018.

MVRDV and Stonehill Taylor worked together to design a building that captures the “vibrant and diverse atmosphere of the neighborhood.” Radio Hotel is made up of eight colorful Lego-like stacked blocks, creating what the design team described as a “vertical village.”

Developed by Youngwoo & Associates, the building brings much-needed office space, hospitality services, and 221 hotel rooms to the area. An 8,000-square-foot courtyard features a coffee bar, garden, and wooden benches.

“The design approach creates a vertical village so that the building does not overwhelm the surroundings,” according to the project page.

The structure’s choice of colors, which includes blue, green, yellow, magenta, and orange, have been modeled after buildings in the near area, according to TimeOut NY. A celebration of the neighborhood, the designers have incorporated visual elements found throughout local businesses.

The vibrant aesthetic continues in its interior as well, with hotel suites and bathrooms clad in vibrant colorways. The hotel has a variety of room configurations, ranging from 150-square-foot bunk rooms to 450-square-foot suites. The price of rooms ranges from $168/night for a studio room to $670/night for a queen room with a skyline view.

Jalao NYC, the first United States location of the popular Dominican restaurant, will take its place as the hotel’s dining option. The eatery offers signature dishes like deep-fried red snapper, crispy pork belly, and classic Dominican menu items like tostones and sancocho, a type of beef stew. They also have vegetarian options.

With its own bar and lounge seating, the dedicated event space on the 12th floor is perfect for hosting weddings, reunions, quineñeras, or any type of intimate gathering. The space opens out onto a rooftop terrace with breathtaking views of the city skyline.

In addition to the building’s hotel amenities, the Radio Hotel will also host conferences for the nearby New York Presbyterian Hospital and Yeshiva University. The structure also contains more than 170,000 square feet of office space and separate retail space on its ground floor.

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All photos courtesy of Ossip van Duivenbode