The Mercer Hotel, located at the corner of Mercer and Prince Streets in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, was the second acquisition in the luxury collection of André Balazs hotels. It offers 75 guest rooms on six floors of a Romanesque revival building.Opening in 1997, The Mercer is the sister hotel to Hollywood's Chateau Marmont. Also owned by André Balazs Properties are the Standard Hotels, including The Standard, Hollywood; The Standard, Downtown LA; The Standard Spa, Miami Beach; The Standard, High Line and the newest addition, The Standard, East Village.HistoryBuilt in 1890 for John Jacob Astor II, the six-story, 84,000 square foot brick building has been cited by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission as an example of the Romanesque Revival period. Architect William Schickel, known for his extensive work on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York, designed the building as offices for the vast Astor family holdings, resulting in a façade considerably more ornate than its industrial neighbors. Prior to its conversion, the building served as artists’ lofts and studios, for which the hotel has now become known.