NeueHouse abruptly closes coworking spaces amid bankruptcy filing, France set as next location for season 4 of The White Lotus, and Pope Leo brings a taste of Chicago to the Vatican. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Pope Leo XIV blesses Vatican Estate restaurant
The Vatican; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Chicago’s favorite son, Pope Leo XIV, is bringing a taste of his hometown to Vatican City. Windy City chef Art Smith and restaurateur Phil Stefani have been chosen by the pontiff to open a new restaurant at Borgo Laudato Si’, a former papal estate outside of Rome. The 135-acre property was inaugurated last week by Pope Leo in an official ceremony. The site comprises gardens, farmland, and a solar-powered greenhouse modeled after the colonnades of St. Peter’s Square. Eater reports that the unnamed restaurant is poised to open in spring 2026 with a menu of farm-to-table Italian cooking with Midwestern and Peruvian influences informing the cuisine in homage to the roots of the Pontiff.
Rossetti and WSP to renovate Arthur Ashe Stadium
A rendering of the new Arthur Ashe Stadium; courtesy of ROSSETTI
The world’s largest tennis stadium, Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York is set to undergo “major surgery” at the hand of architecture firm Rossetti and structural engineer WSP. Located at the former World’s Fair site in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Ashe serves as the centerpiece of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center campus. Construction will occur between three U.S. Opens, with the crux of structural work tackled between the 2025 and 2026 programs, Dezeen reports. Key updates will include new suites, a reconfiguration of the lower bowl to add more courtside seating, and an expansion of the concourse level, which will be cantilevered. Renderings also depict new 110-foot-tall gates crafted by Studio Daniel Libeskind. The only word that comes to mind for me is “love.”
The White Lotus to open season 4 in France
The Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat in France, designed by Pierre Yves-Rochon; photo by Christian Horan
As we buckle up to see which ladies will take home an Emmy for season 3 of The White Lotus on Sunday (choosing between Carrie Coon and Parker Posey is just plain mean), fans of the HBO hit are already discussing what’s in store for season 4. Deadline reports that showrunner Mike White has confirmed that the next iteration of the show will unfold in an undisclosed French destination. While watching the frothy soap opera might take place in the streets of Paris or the sunny leas of Lyon, many are hedging bets that the iconic Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat in the French Riviera will be the setting of the next whodunnit.
NeueHouse unexpectedly shutters entire fleet
The NeueHouse Bradbury in Los Angeles, crafted by DesignAgency; photo by Nikolas Koenig
In a surprise shakeup this week, upscale coworking club NeueHouse announced that all of its locations were set to close. According to Architect’s Newspaper, members in California and New York were given two days to clear out. A statement on the company website indicated mounting financial issues as the catalyst for the unexpected closures. NeueHouse boasted a series of signature adaptive reuse projects in its portfolio, with Rockwell Group crafting locations in New York and Los Angeles. LA’s iconic Bradbury Building (the handiwork of DesignAgency) was also a celebrated centerpiece of the portfolio, but, like the rest of the coworking company’s outposts, the fate of these architectural gems remains unknown.
Don’t miss the Women Leaders Breakfast at BDNY
The BDNY Women Leaders honorees: Julia Choi, Jeffrey Beers International; Chequetta Dessources, IHG Hotels & Resorts; Carrie Gates, Absolute Procurement; Danu Kennedy, Parts and Labor Design; Anne Lefferson, Belmond; Mary Alice Palmer, ROAM; Cori Tahara, MINA Group
Registered to attend BDNY 2025? Then be sure to buy tickets to the BDNY Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast on November 10th. Presented in partnership with NEWH, the signature Boutique Design event will bring together women thought leaders in hospitality design, operations, investment, and manufacturing for a lively, candid discussion on challenges, opportunities, and trends in the industry. This year’s lineup includes Julia Choi, Jeffrey Beers International; Chequetta Dessources, IHG; Carrie Gates, Absolute Procurement; Danu Kennedy, Parts and Labor Design; Anne Lefferson, Belmond; Mary Alice Palmer, ROAM; and Cori Tahara, MINA Group. Register for BDNY and purchase tickets today.
