CNY Builders oversees completion of Starwood's Element by Westin - $70m proj.

In a construction environment that has experienced little activity to cheer of late, there's a bright spot on Manhattan's West Side: the topping out of Starwood's first Element by Westin hotel in New York City, according to Steve Colao, chief operating officer of CNY Builders, which managed the $70 million project's construction on behalf of Tritel Construction and owner's agent ABI Design & Construction. Located just off 8th Ave. at 311 West 39th St., "Element New York Times Square West," a 39-story, 177,000 s/f, 411-room hotel, is expected to open in the late summer of 2010. "There have been fewer and fewer toppings-off taking place in Manhattan these days, as so many development projects have stalled," said Ken Colao, president of CNY Builders. "We are happy to have been involved in a project that serves as a positive counterexample in the New York City market." Developed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts and launched in 2008, Element by Westin targets the extended-stay segment of the hotel market with flexible residence-like rooms, designed in a smart, modern, and distinctly sustainable aesthetic, and supported by a variety of a multi-purpose public spaces and amenities. This property marks the first location for Element in Manhattan. Project team members include Gene Kaufman Architect PC (architect and HVAC engineer), and Axis Design Group International (structural engineer). George Wong Design is the interior designer.