In a city of a million stories, few have been as compelling as those lived in the Waldorf Astoria. A globally renowned icon, it has been a beacon of timeless glamour and luxury for over a century.

Noë & Associates obtained a sample of the brick and with James Cropper and G . F Smith Colorplan as their paper specialists, worked together to develop a unique ‘Waldorf Grey’ paper.

Following a total restoration from sidewalk to spires and the purchase of the hotel in 2016, Noë & Associates were appointed to bring the project to life.

When researching the Waldorf Astoria and meeting architects of the restoration, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it was discovered that the unique facade of the building is composed of brick especially made for the hotel in 1929 called Waldorf Grey. Part of the restoration was a complete cleaning of this brick bringing it back to its original grandeur and colour.

The brick colour was analysed by the team of specialist colour technicians in James Cropper on-site laboratory, and the colour recipe for Waldorf Grey was approved.

Skidmore Owings & Merrill

“ “There is an awesome responsibility that comes with restoring such a timeless part of New York’s and the world’s cultural fabric. The Waldorf Astoria will always be an American icon. By working with the team at James Cropper, we’ve been able to create a high-performance, versatile art paper by bringing together high-quality cup fibres and our own all-media formulation. The partnership demonstrates how a zero waste process can also present real creative possibilities.” ”

Skidmore Owings & Merrill