The iconic Rainbow Room event space, located on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, is due to reopen Oct. 1.
Closed for the past five years following developer Tishman Speyer’s dispute with tenant Cipriani, the space underwent a renovation that will make 950 square feet of previously unused wraparound terrace available, Bloomberg News reported. All chandeliers and sconces have been cleaned and restored, real crystal curtains have replaced old fabrics, and white gold has been painted on the ceiling’s dome. Architect Michael Gabellini also created two new modern lounges on the 65th floor.
“In the 1930s, the shape of the building was conceived as the Queen Mary [cruise liner] overlooking the Hudson,” he told Bloomberg News. “With The Terrace, we wanted to create a panoramic view as if from the stern of a ship, and create the feeling of embarking on a voyage.”
In a push toward modernizing the space, Tishman Speyer is also investing in a state-of-the-art tech overhaul. To that end, staff members can dim now the lights on customized silver table tops, or change the music and temperature via Crestron automation software.
The developer declined to comment to Bloomberg on how much the renovations cost. Back in 1987, restaurateur Joe Baum refurbished the space to the tune of $25 million, which would be roughly $50.5 million in today’s terms, according to Bloomberg. [Bloomberg News] — Julie Strickland