PORCELANOSA, a global leader in the innovation, design, manufacturing and distribution of luxury tile, kitchen and bath products, has completed the renovation of the former Commodore Criterion building in Madison Square Park, New York City to become their U.S. flagship store. The building, a protected city landmark, was originally designed and built in 1918 and was purchased by PORCELANOSA in 2012. World-renowned architects from Foster + Partners, headed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winning architect Lord Norman Foster, began refurbishing the 18,000 square foot building in early 2013 and have worked diligently to ensure that the project has preserved its historic exterior while pairing with a completely modern interior to reflect PORCELANOSA’s innovative style.
“PORCELANOSA is excited to announce the grand opening of our new showroom and provide an entirely new way for the public to experience our wide selection of European luxury products in an iconic location,” said Santiago Manent, Sales and Marketing Director for PORCELANOSA. “The building’s incredible design, interactive technology features and unprecedented offerings make it a truly remarkable place which will greatly benefit the design community in New York City and greater design industry.”
The building, which will be LEED Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council, boasts unique features on each of its eight floors, including a retractable, polished ceiling made out of PORCELANOSA’s trademarked KRION® Solid Surface, café, bar and lounge areas and a full floor dedicated to a professional material library with touch-screen displays to help clients visualize some of the 1,000+ products available in the showroom. The first floor also overlooks a floor-to-ceiling 26’H x 16’ LED screen, visible from 25th Street, Broadway or Fifth Avenue.
To celebrate the grand opening, PORCELANOSA partnered with the Madison Square Park Conservancy to host their Fall Fundraising Gala on the park’s grounds back in September 2015. More than 700 guests in attendance enjoyed a seated dinner along with a traditional Flamenco dance spectacle by performers from Spain. Celebrity guests in attendance at the gala included:
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker
Actor Richard Gere
TV personality Meredith Vieira
Model Irina Shayk
Fashion designer Carolina Herrera
Spanish Model Nieves Álvarez
Spanish bullfighter Cayetano Rivera
Corporate Office – 600 Route 17 North Ramsey, NJ 07446 Tel: 201.995.1310
CALIFORNIA I COLORADO | CONNECTICUT I DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA I FLORIDA I GEORGIA
ILLINOIS MARYLAND I MASSACHUSETTS I NEW JERSEY I NEW YORK I PENNSYLVANIA | TEXAS
TORONTO | WASHINGTON
Spanish bullfighter Finito de Córdoba
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky
US Ambassador to Spain James Costos
Porcelanosa Spokesperson Isabel Preysler
Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llos
PORCELANOSA has also provided a donation to Madison Square Park, making it possible for the group to reinvest in its infrastructure, maintain the bountiful green space and exquisite gardens, make necessary repairs and upgrades to existing features and continue to nurture this unparalleled resource for the community and visitors.
For more information, please stop by the showroom, now open to the public, at 202 Fifth Avenue in New York City or visit www.porcelanosa-usa.com.
About PORCELANOSA
PORCELANOSA Group is the premiere European manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tile, natural stone, hardwood, mosaics, kitchen cabinets, vanities, bathtubs, faucets, shower systems, solid surfaces and more. The PORCELANOSA Group has more than 400 showrooms throughout the whole world, which it either operates itself or through companies with its distributors. The company has 25 showrooms and six distribution centers spanning more than five million square feet throughout