The hotel company that developed the retro-chic TWA Hotel at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport has bought London’s iconic BT Tower, one of London’s most iconic buildings, from British Telecoms Group for $347 million.
KEY FACTS
- MCR Hotels, the third largest hotel owner in the US, with a $5 billion portfolio of 150 properties and more than 25,000 rooms in 37 states, intends to convert the former London Communications Tower into a hotel. While the timeline for the project has yet to be announced, one thing is certain: every guest will get a room with a spectacular view.
- Located in the tony Fitzrovia district of central London, the 191-metre BT Tower (originally called the Post Office Tower) has been a landmark on the British capital’s skyline since its opening in 1965, when its primary purpose was to carry radio communications from London to the rest of the world. from the country. There were also observation decks, a souvenir shop and a revolving restaurant on the 34th floor called The Top of the Tower, which made one rotation every 23 minutes.
- Advances in fiber optics and cellular networks eventually rendered the tower obsolete, and its antennas were removed in 2011. Today, two floors atop the tower continue to house the so-called «info bar,» a 360-degree color LED screen that displays news in central London.
IMPORTANT QUOTE
The transformation from a communication landmark to a hotel will not happen in the near future. “We are proud to become the owners and custodians of the iconic BT Tower,” says Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR. «We will take the time to carefully develop proposals that respect the rich history of the London landmark for all to enjoy.»
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
A press release noted that it would take BT Group «several years to vacate the premises» and the developer would take «significant time to develop the design and engage with local communities» before the proposals were announced.
MCR has a track record of transforming historically significant buildings into noteworthy hotels. The company opened the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. The project received a national architecture award from the American Institute of Architects. MCR is currently renovating New York’s historic Gramercy Park Hotel — whose famous patrons have included Humphrey Bogart, Babe Ruth and John F. Kennedy — with plans to reopen next year.
«We see a lot of parallels between the TWA Hotel and the BT Tower,» says Morse. “Both are world-renowned, ground-breaking works of architecture. It has been a privilege to adapt the TWA Flight Center to a new use for future generations as it will be the BT Tower.”
