New York‘s newest boutique hotel, Row NYC, opened its doors at the end of March in Times Square. This launch comes after two years and $140 million were spent on developing the 1,331-room property at 800 8th Avenue, a collaboration between Highgate Hotels and Rockpoint Group. This hotel strives to bring the pulse of the city into the experience of its visitors and redefine the Midtown Manhattan hotel experience.

Row asked New York–based architecture and design firm Gabellini Sheppard Associates to integrate elements of the city’s redesigned grittiness into their hotel.

Upon entering the space, visitors are immediately confronted by a twenty-four-foot-high entry space that draws off of the electricity of the surrounding area. The double-height lobby is accessible through a grand, illuminated staircase meant to lend a theatrical sensibility to the entry sequence. The entryway combines industrial and organic elements to create a space that feels both intimate and limitless. The reception area is flanked by two light sculptures by New York artist Yorgo Alexopoulos.

Row’s restaurant, District M, features items from New York’s most famous bakeries and bistros including Payard, Murray’s Cheese Shop, and Balthazar.  A full market is expected to open later this year called City Kitchen that will offer additional cuisine from around the city. According to a statement from Row, “it will be a respite for foodies who work in the area and allow guests to get a taste of New York’s finest without ever having to leave the property.”

The hotel will have a digital art gallery that features work by Ron Gabella, the so-called “godfather of U.S. paparazzi culture.” The collection will feature images of Manhattan during the late seventies and early eighties. Never before seen images by Gabella will be featured in guest rooms.