New York City
On behalf of Sydell Group
As VP of Development for Sydell Group, Phil Hospod led the design, development, construction, and opening of the Freehand New York housed in the former George Washington hotel. Designed by Roman and Williams with custom artwork by Bard College students, the Freehand New York offers four restaurants: Simon and the Whale, Smile to Go, Freehand Studio, and Broken Shaker.
​
This is the 4th Freehand hotel by Sydell Group and epitomizes the culmination of the brand focused on fun social hospitality.
​
Location
23 Lexington, NYC, NY
​
Property
The Freehand New York by the Sydell Group; a 395 room hotel with shared accommodations opened in January 2018
​
Adaptive reuse of 170,000 square foot 1925 hotel
Historic tax credit project
​
Simon and the Whale by Gabe Stulman
​
Press
​“These Sydell Group properties—in NYC, D.C., and L.A.—are rewriting the rules on inimitable style within the industry; Architectural Digest.”
​
“Freehand Hotel Comes to New York, Bringing a
High-Design Restaurant With It – Vogue”
​
“Freehand: The Buzziest New Hotel In New York – Guest of a Guest”
​
“Behold the Tropical Jungle Oasis at Broken Shaker’s New Rooftop Bar – Eater New York”