The Savoy Club: A Sophisticated Amenity Suite in Manhattan 

The storied General Motors building in New York City is home to corporations and luxury retailers, and now the Savoy Club, an amenity suite for tenants with offerings which align with the way that people live and work today. Architecture and interiors studio Fogarty Finger was tapped to design the new club and to create an elevated experience for employees and their guests.

Wanting to maintain their appeal in an ever-competitive real estate market, building owner BXP surveyed anchor tenants to find out which offerings would be most desirable in the 26,000-square-foot space. The respondents requested more overall area to host large meetings, food options, and a wellness venue.

The GM Building’s Savoy Club, designed by Fogarty Finger. Photography by David Mitchell

One of the challenges for the designers was bringing all of the elements together seamlessly, rather than creating separate zones. We employed a three-pronged approach to these three very different programs to try to weave them together,” said Garrett Rock, lead designer on the project and associate director at Fogarty Finger.

The Savoy Club’s location allows for optimization of use, which was prioritized. Rather than following a long, meandering route through the building to get to a tucked away, darkened space, people can take the stairs up to be transported to the hospitality-like environment on the second floor.

Lounge areas and expandable seminar rooms offer more space for meetings and events.

The 1968 structure was designed by Edward Durrell Stone, and the building itself was the starting point. From the chamfer detailing to the Georgia white marble façade and lobby, elements were woven throughout the interiors.We really took cues from the building architecture,” noted Rock. The tone-on-tone materiality embodies mid-century optimism, and has an understated elegance.” Instead of cool, stark selections, the materials emphasize visual layers with travertine, terrazzo, and white oak.

The limewash in different shades of taupe serves as a matte canvas, amplying and giving the natural light some added warmth. Inspiration for the fabrics and the finishes came from a group of 10 women hired by GM in the 1950s to bring a feminine touch to the manufacturer’s cars. Known as the Damsels of Design, they introduced the first retractable seat belt, light-up mirrors, and microsuede into the newest models to roll off the line. The cohort was short-lived, but they made a lasting impact.

Plenty of grab-and-go food and beverage options are available to tenants and guests.

The team wanted to capture some of that spirit of ingenuity, and they looked at the color palettes of the period, which became part of the design language for the furniture and the works on display. It’s very neutral inside, but there’s a lot of textile art,” Rock said. You’ll see these pops of deeper, saturated jewel tones that are akin to those prevalent at the time.”

A versatile conference center is at the heart of the club, with a lounge and seminar rooms that open to one large 200-person town hall area as needed. While most companies in the building have their own smaller boardrooms, this option allows them to gather all of their staff together for a quarterly meeting. Yet it is also used as a relaxed flex space. Colleagues can touch base or an individual can check emails in comfortable seating, no longer relegated to the noisy lobby.

Furnishings and artworks create a hospitality-like setting.

There’s also a central food and beverage hub with a café. Fully stocked with grab-and-go options like sandwiches and coffee, it provides a more affordable alternative to the expensive restaurants in the Plaza District. With a prep kitchen for daily service, and a wine bar, this sector doubles a center ideal for socializing as well as events.

The fitness facility spans the east side of the building, with exercise studios and physical therapy treatment rooms. The locker rooms and showers are surprisingly upscale, reminiscent of a high-end spa instead of a typical office that may have a tiny weight room and a few yoga mats. It is a wellness center for not only those who want to get into shape, but also for people getting ready for an after-work event. If they commute, they have the opportunity to refresh without rushing out the door. A lot of larger companies have some sort of gym, but they are utilitarian and ordinary,” Rock said. Here we have a luxurious feel.”

Rock noted that he expects to see more of these types of all-inclusive clubs, as owners look to do more than check off boxes of each service they have included, but to provide inviting places that are accessible to all. Such suites are actually the ultimate amenity for staff, who don’t have to leave the premises to benefit from everything available. These amenities are now part of our routines, and expected,” he added. Owners want to put them in their own settings to highlight what is special about a building.”

A range of textures and tones bring warmth into the space.
The fitness center includes rooms for exercise and physical therapy.
The lockers and showers in the fitness area are reminiscent of a spa environment.