Biophilia Reigns at Le Pavillon
This New York City restaurant takes the phrase “bringing the outside in” to a new level.
Located inside midtown Manhattan’s tallest tower, the 11,000-square-foot dining space is a garden oasis that has clear views of Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building. Le Pavillon was inspired by traditional French pavilions — festive gathering spaces surrounded by nature.
Michelin-renowned chef Daniel Boulud, in partnership with SL Green, envisioned a classic French restaurant where guests are invited to savor fine cuisine within a garden retreat.
To achieve Chef Boulud’s goal, the project team sought to create an intimate dining experience surrounded by tree-lined paths and gardens. The challenge was creating this living garden within a towering 55-foot-high space inside the 93-story One Vanderbilt building.
To create the gardens and plant-lined pathways within Le Pavillon, the team faced one of the project’s main challenges—the integration of a 775-square-foot planting area, supported by 2,000 square feet of dedicated infrastructure, that would be at the same finished elevation as the dining room floor. A total of about 1,000 plants were chosen both for their indoor durability and their resemblance to native species.
The pathways and seating sections within the planting area create a natural pathway and offer wayfinding for both guests and staff. Custom banquette seating is nestled along the edges of the plant beds to integrate the restaurant seating and tables with the landscape and to provide a semi-private dining experience for guests.
Italian marble wraps the structural steel stair and landings, while Venetian plaster lines walls throughout the entry and the dining space. The interior wall spanning the full length and height of the space is clad with thin vertical slats of Rift European White Oak that visually connect with the organic forms of the gardens.
Project: Le Pavillon
- Location: New York City
- Project type: New build/fit-out within One Vanderbilt
- Concept style: French contemporary
- Opening date: May 19, 2021
- Size: 11,000-square-feet
Project team:
- Owner/developer: SL Green Realty, Dinex Group
- Construction manager: Shawmut Design and Construction
- Executive architect: Montroy DeMarco Architecture
- Lead design firm: Isay Weinfeld
- Structural engineering firm: Severud Associates
- MEP engineering firm: JB&B (Jaros, Baum & Bolles)
- Landscape designer: Future Green Studio
- Lighting designer: Dot Dash
- Acoustic consultant: Cerami & Associates
- Audio/visual consultant: TAD Associates
- Foodservice consultant: Next Step Design
- Horticulture team: Blondie’s Treehouse Inc
Source: Restaurant Development+Design Magazine / Photo Credit: Naho Kubota




Architecture Affiliate, MDA is Architect for New 19,694 SF Furniture Showroom at 99 Madison Avenue in Manhattan’s Nomad Design District
Representing landlord, Windsor Management, Architecture Affiliate, MDA is Architect for the new 19,694 SF showroom for Italian furniture company, Boffi l DePadova at 99 Madison Avenue in Manhattan's Nomad Design district. Commercial Observer Article...

MADGI and Benchmark Builders complete 14,000 SF at Vornado’s LEED Gold 280 Park Avenue
Manhattan, NY Interior design firm Montroy Andersen DeMarco (MADGI) has completed a new corporate workplace at 280 Park Ave. for one of the world’s foremost global insurance and banking groups. The MADGI-designed space is a smart, modern office that fosters...

Designers Isay Weinfeld and Montroy DeMarco Architecture, and Construction Manager Shawmut Complete Le Pavillon Restaurant at One Vanderbilt Tower in Manhattan
The Project Wins Engineering News-Record New York Best of the Year Award in the Residential/Hospitality Category The project team included property owner and restaurant partner SL Green, landscape designer Future Green and lighting designer Dot Dash ...