Sep 14 2015
PORCELANOSA, a global leader in the innovation, design, manufacturing and distribution of luxury tile, kitchen and bath products, has completed the renovation of the former Commodore Criterion building in Madison Square Park, New York City to become their U.S. flagship store. The building, a protected city landmark, was originally designed and built in 1918 and was purchased by PORCELANOSA in 2012.
World-renowned architects from Foster + Partners, headed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winning architect Lord Norman Foster, began refurbishing the 18,000 square foot building in early 2013 and have worked diligently to ensure that the project has preserved its historic exterior while pairing with a completely modern interior to reflect PORCELANOSA's innovative style.
PORCELANOSA Celebrates Grand Opening Of NYC Showroom In Partnership With Madison Square Park Conservancy's Fall Fundraising Gala On September 9th
"PORCELANOSA is excited to announce the grand opening of our new showroom and provide an entirely new way for the public to experience our wide selection of European luxury products in an iconic location," said Santiago Manent, Sales and Marketing Director for PORCELANOSA. "The building's incredible design, interactive technology features and unprecedented offerings make it a truly remarkable place which will greatly benefit the design community in New York City and greater design industry."
The building, which will be LEED Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council, boasts unique features on each of its eight floors, including a retractable, polished ceiling made out of PORCELANOSA's trademarked KRION® Solid Surface, café, bar and lounge areas and a full floor dedicated to a professional material library with touch-screen displays to help clients visualize some of the 1,000+ products available in the showroom. The first floor also overlooks a floor-to-ceiling 26'H x 16' LED screen, visible from 25th Street, Broadway or Fifth Avenue.
To celebrate the grand opening, PORCELANOSA partnered with the Madison Square Park Conservancy to host their Fall Fundraising Gala on the park's grounds on September 9th, 2015. More than 700 guests in attendance enjoyed a seated dinner along with a traditional Flamenco dance spectacle by performers from Spain. Celebrity guests in attendance at the gala included:
- Actress Sarah Jessica Parker
- Actor Richard Gere
- TV personality Meredith Vieira
- Model Irina Shayk
- Fashion designer Carolina Herrera
- Spanish Model Nieves Alvarez
- Spanish bullfighter Cayetano Rivera
- Bullfighter Finito de Cordoba
- Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky
- US Ambassador to Spain James Costos
- Porcelanosa Spokesperson Isabel Preysler
- Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa
PORCELANOSA has also provided a donation to Madison Square Park, making it possible for the group to reinvest in its infrastructure, maintain the bountiful green space and exquisite gardens, make necessary repairs and upgrades to existing features and continue to nurture this unparalleled resource for the community and visitors.
For more information, please stop by the showroom, now open to the public, at 202 Fifth Avenue in New York City or visit http://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/