Construction Update: Riu Hotel, 301 West 46th Street

Riu Hotel, 301 West 46th StreetRiu Hotel, 301 West 46th Street, image by Colin Miller

The new Riu Plaza Times Square is making significant headway, and the hotel — located at 301 West 46th Street, on the corner of 8th Avenue — is approaching its halfway point, in terms of total height. The building will eventually stand 29 stories tall, and Berg + Moss (formerly Berg & Flynn) is the architect of record; YIMBY also has a fresh reveal of the tower.

Riu Hotel

Riu Hotel Times Square — image by Berg + Moss

301 West 46th Street replaces several low-rise structures, none of which merited preservation, but the new building begs the question of whether the land is being put to its highest and best use. The project’s Midtown surrounds do not warrant a starchitect-caliber design, but the current scheme is inappropriate for Manhattan, and will result in a mish-mash of value-engineered final product — especially compared to Berg + Moss’ initial plan, which was far more attractive.

Zoning in Hell’s Kitchen must accommodate demand for new rooms, which remains through the roof; despite this, large-scale hotel developments are few and far between. The visual carnage blighting Chelsea and the Garment District has largely avoided the neighborhood, as much of Hell’s Kitchen has been designated a historic district with strict height limits, but unfortunately, that classification also means that Midtown’s edge falls short of its full potential.

Riu Hotel, 301 West 46th Street

Riu Hotel, viewed from West 46th Street, image by Colin Miller

Accommodating tourists should be a regional priority, given the associated economic benefits, and currently, New York City lacks a comprehensive plan for future hotel developments. Accordingly, 301 West 46th Street presents an excellent example of a site that should be zoned for greater density, and its location and scope certainly merit something of a grander scale.

While replacing old with new is not a bad thing, razing attractive pre-war structures for bland and monotonous modernity is something that New York should avoid, and if policy is to effect change, the city must begin offering incentives for good development. Instead of limiting what can be built — which results in bottom of the barrel architecture when it comes to sites like 301 West 46th Street — carrots for street-walls, facade materials, and pedestrian amenities should exist. The solution lies in the creation of density bonuses for an optional design review process.

Besides offering carrots instead of sticks, the city must revisit zoning limitations on streets like Eighth Avenue, which deserve iconic buildings. As-is, eyesores like the future Riu Plaza are allowed without any debate; instead, developers should have the option to track through design review panels in exchange for density bonuses — which would also have the side-benefit of increasing transparency when it comes to new construction.

In and of itself, the Riu Times Square is hardly terrible, and the project will deliver approximately 600 hotel rooms to a market that needs many, many more — but the development puts several policy issues on display, given its location, size, and appearance. Taking these factors into account, 301 West 46th Street shows the failures of current zoning, and also illustrates a potentially bleak future, if policy remains stagnant.

Riu Hotel, 301 West 46th Street

Riu Hotel, 301 West 46th Street, viewed from 8th Avenue: image by Colin Miller

Completion is expected in 2015.

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67 Comments on "Construction Update: Riu Hotel, 301 West 46th Street"

  1. I STAYED AT THE Riu in Jamaica had a great time.

  2. walquiria leon | July 7, 2015 at 8:57 pm |

    I want to work there. Can you send me an application, please.

  3. Are you hiring as of yet? Where can I applied for a position for this location?

  4. Where can I applied

  5. I would like to obtain a job there. Where can I apply

  6. Can you let me know where I can pick up an application.

    Thanks.

  7. I would like to apply for a position at this location. How would i request an application?

  8. Hi there, I’ve always known how finest Riu hotel and resort and have a dream to be part of your team. Now that I know you new opening please inform me how can I able to be apply your for job.
    Thank you and looking forward to meeting you.
    Mizan khan

  9. I would like to apply to Rui Plaza Hotel.How do i get the application form?

  10. Stanley Quinones | September 10, 2015 at 7:41 pm |

    Good Evening.
    I would love to apply for a job at the RIU Hotel being constructed at west 46th street.
    I live on the same Neighborhood, please contact me by Email with the Process of application.
    Thank you for your time.

  11. miguelina duran | September 10, 2015 at 9:04 pm |

    i would like get the application for that hotel ,please le me khow how.I vevy interested.

  12. Lobsang dolma lama | September 14, 2015 at 9:43 pm |

    I would love to apply for a job at RIU hotel . If it’s not too late I would like to get the application . Pls let me know

  13. Porfirio Capellan | September 22, 2015 at 8:03 am |

    How can I apply to get a job in the hotel,.thanks veey much.

  14. Gricelda Contreras | September 22, 2015 at 3:36 pm |

    I want to work there.can You send me an Application please

  15. Tenzin Tashi | October 1, 2015 at 6:55 pm |

    I would like to apply for a job at RIU Hotel Times Square New York. How do i get application form?

  16. Lourdes Acay | October 2, 2015 at 3:11 pm |

    I have a lot experience in the hospitality industrie so I would like to apply for a job in the housekeeping department in the Riu Plaza Time Square Hotel.
    Thanks

  17. I would like to apply for a job at RIU Hotel Times Square New York. How do i get application form?

  18. I am looking to how I can apply to for this hotel if you can send me an application that would be great I just heard from this hotel and would love to apply.

  19. I would like to apply for a job in the housekeeping department in the RIU Plaza Time Square Hotel, how can i get the application for that hotel ,please let me know,I am very interested.
    thank you!

  20. I think this is one of the world class hotel, I was on the site a week ago,I want to be one of the first people to be hired as a Handyman, please email me of one of your application forms,I very interested, thank.

  21. Felix Casimiro | October 15, 2015 at 7:17 pm |

    October, 15 2015, I love to work for Riu Hotel, Time Square, newyork, How can i get an aplication form.

  22. I would like to know how to apply for a job at this site. Can I apply online? is there a place to get a job application? please let me know. Thank you

  23. herve edmond | October 20, 2015 at 1:30 pm |

    i would like to apply at riu hotel as a housekeeper houseman what should i do

  24. marlenni minaya | October 20, 2015 at 7:50 pm |

    I would like to apply at riu plaza hotel where can I applied please let me know. Thank you

  25. wendy collado | October 20, 2015 at 9:05 pm |

    Iwould like to apply for a job there,how can I get an application??

  26. Jesse Bruckman | October 26, 2015 at 1:30 pm |

    Hello. and good day to you, I also wish to know where it would be that I can apply for a position at this upcoming Hotel please reply to e-mail provided and thank you for your response in advance.

    Yours truly
    Jesse Bruckman.

  27. Brezhna Lopez | November 3, 2015 at 2:41 pm |

    Hello, I would like to apply for a position at this Hotel. Would you please provide me an application or let me know where can I apply?
    Thank you so much!

    Sincerely,
    Brezhna Lopez

  28. David Gonzalez | November 5, 2015 at 3:31 pm |

    Would you please are you hiring already would please send me the website of your in N.Y.C.thank you very much

  29. Can you please send me one application?. Thanks in advance

  30. can you please email me the application form?.

  31. I would like to apply for a position at this Hotel.would you please provide me an application or send me the website to apply thanks.

  32. can you please email me the application form? Thank you

  33. I would like to apply for a job please let me know the details.

  34. Lhakpa /Nov / 26/ 2015. 11:13 am. I would like to apply at Riu hotel as a I have express houseman what should I do.

  35. I would like to know how to apply for a housekeeping please let me know thank you

  36. Shaobing Tang | November 29, 2015 at 7:35 pm |

    I would like to apply for room attendant position in this hotel. May I know how to apply for it, please?

  37. How can I apply for a job? Please send me the application .thanks

  38. I would like to apply for a job at RIU Hotel Times Square New York. How do i get application form?

  39. Karchong mitok | December 4, 2015 at 7:25 pm |

    how to get application form?

  40. Sabbir chowdhury | December 6, 2015 at 11:23 pm |

    Hi,how can I get application for job? Please

  41. how do I apply? Advice me…

  42. how to get application form?

  43. Eduardo Bauzon | December 22, 2015 at 9:27 am |

    Can I submit resume personaly or send through email

  44. How to get application form ??

  45. Where can I get the application form to apply for job

  46. Leticia Obeng | January 28, 2016 at 9:39 am |

    Hello, where can I get application for this New hotel coming up. Thanks

  47. herve edmond | February 2, 2016 at 8:20 am |

    this for riu hotel in times square

    i would love to apply for housemen or lobby position how can do that plaese

    herve edmond

  48. I WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR A CONCIERGE POSTION.

  49. Sultan Mahmud | February 17, 2016 at 9:53 pm |

    I want to apply for job as a waiter/cocktail server
    Or bartender. Please let me know when you are going to recruit employment. Thank you

  50. Marcia George | February 25, 2016 at 2:16 pm |

    How do I apply for a job at your lovely hotel?

  51. good evening my name is herve edmond and ihave been doing houseman for10 years

    please call at this number as soon as you open that hotel 516-374-1692 or 347-567-5382

    herve edmond

  52. Great place to work . Please call me when it’s time to join the team. Contact number on my resume.

  53. Lobsang Nyima | March 9, 2016 at 9:46 pm |

    I would love to work in this new hotel. Please contact me when it will open …

  54. Roberto Solis | March 11, 2016 at 9:27 pm |

    Good evening MY name is Roberto Solis and I have been Cooking for more than 17 years, I wood love to work in this new hotel.
    Please contct me when it’s time to join the team.

  55. Charlene waiters | March 12, 2016 at 9:24 am |

    Can you tell me where I can get a job application from thank you

  56. Hey i need an aplication i use to work at riu in dominican

  57. Abdelkader taib | March 19, 2016 at 7:19 am |

    Hey, I would like to work in riu plaza time square, please can you tel my how I get an application. Thank you

  58. Dirk Heringer | March 22, 2016 at 1:36 pm |

    Hello , I have booked this Hotel from 28 of April to 2 of May, can you tell me is that Hotel open just in Time, im from Germany an stay my first time in New York and im sorry but my enlisch is not the best
    Thanks for your answer

  59. ali echchahid | March 22, 2016 at 6:25 pm |

    I would love to work for this company I have more then 14 years experience and I can speak fluently 4 languages how can I apply?

  60. Andrea Martin | March 26, 2016 at 12:06 pm |

    I have work in the Riu hotel in Jamaica I would like to apply to this hotel how can I get an application

  61. Steven Dunn | March 29, 2016 at 4:09 am |

    I have met the Owners. The Riu brothers they stayed at the hotel where I work at. I would like to know how I can go about receiving and application. Please.

  62. Where I can get application form to apply work here in Rui plaza Times Square. I left my name and contact number with 3 to 11pm door man.

  63. Christian C | April 5, 2016 at 2:27 am |

    hi how are you ? i’m really interesting to apply in Rui Hotel Plaza Times Square. Please contact me and let me know how to apply. thank you very much.

  64. Maria Mentis | April 25, 2016 at 10:45 pm |

    I want to apply for a server or bartender job

  65. i will like to get hired there can you please inform me where can i go to apply

Comments are closed.