Architect Whitney Warren created an aura of French “café society” when conceiving the curved, glass-conservatory design of the iconic room on 44th Street known as the Palm Café. A water leak led to necessary repairs to the Café’s plaster molding and oak flooring, but with the support from the New York Yacht Club Foundation, the ongoing project transcended carpentry and imbued the space with new light: a notable achievement, as the original skylight was covered in the 1940s as an air-raid precaution during World War II, the last time the room was cast in natural light.
Now, with its energy-efficient LED lighting system, the Café can be bathed in hues ranging from warm candlelight to bright daylight, mimicking the effects of the bygone skylight. Indeed, let there be light.
Project Completion Date: 2021
