Lofty ambition

Amex is setting the bar high with a new space for its Centurion card members

- By Tilly MaCalister-Smith

The 55th floor of One Vanderbilt, a soaring 93-storey skyscraper on the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, is now home to Centurion New York, a new space for American Express, offering a discreet place to work, relax, eat and drink, conceived for holders of its Centurion ‘black card’.

One Vanderbilt itself was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and completed in 2020. Amex brought on board Yabu Pushelberg to further craft and outfit its space, right down to its curtains and cutlery. The international design practice was an intelligent choice, considering its extensive portfolio that blends hospitality (Miami Beach and London Editions, The Londoner, and Park Hyatt Shenzhen) with retail (it was involved in the much lauded overhaul of La Samaritaine in Paris), as well as many high-net-worth homes. Located directly opposite Grand Central Station, and offering panoramic views across Central Park to the north, the Empire State to the south, and the Hudson River to the west, there is no denying its appeal.

Spanning the entirety of the 55th floor, the 11,500 sq ft front-of-house area includes a lounge area, two restaurants with menus designed by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud, a large event space, a wine room curated by Daniel Johnnes, a cocktail bar, and a ‘secret’ bar. Kitted out in muted blush pink tones, with velvet sofas and hand-knotted rugs, the latter is by invitation only, at the management’s discretion.