New Renderings Revealed for 292 Madison Ave.

Last year, the Vanbarton Group purchased 292 Madison Ave from the Marciano Brothers for a total of $180 million dollars, and they did so knowing they’d have to invest more money into fixing the place up. The lobby and entrance alone made visitors feel like they were taking a trip back to decades past. Now, renderings for the new design plans have been revealed and are estimated to cost between five and seven million dollars.

Here’s What’s Changing:

The Entrance and Lobby

Formerly a space covered in cherry wood paneling, the building’s lobby will now feature white stone walls, new marble flooring, and bronzed glass on the walls and ceilings leading to the elevator.

The Floor Uses

Each floor of the building will include sleek carpeting and sofas in social areas as well as glassy conference rooms. The floors will also have four single-occupancy restrooms and a pantry, with a mix of polished concrete and oak floor in each of the units. The 25th and 26th floor will be converted into a duplex with an outdoor terrace.

The Office Spaces

Empty units are intended to be destroyed and whiteboxed in an effort to create more open workstations. The spaces will measure between 3,000 and 11,00 square feet  and be marketing toward financial, technology, advertising, media, and information companies.

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If Historic NYC Buildings Were Designed Today

Did you know that over 40% of the buildings in Manhattan wouldn’t have been granted construction permits if they had been attempted to be built in 2017? This is mostly due to the fact that, when they were built years ago, there was a different importance placed on building density, ceiling height, column placement, and general living standards. In a fun experiment, HWKN architecture firm deciding to apply modern construction techniques and design principles to twelve art deco and gothic revival buildings in Manhattan in a project they call New(er) York.

The Steps They Took:

Upon embarking on this experiment, the firm took four main steps:

1. They created very detailed 3D models of the buildings they were re-designing.
2. Next, they got rid of any and all intricate details on the building, leaving only its basic form and proportions.
3. Then they reworked the building’s structure to “emphasize each building’s unique character.”
4. Lastly, they added “contemporary facade techniques” to give the new design a sense of realism.

Why Old Buildings’ Structures Were Allowed:

If the way historic buildings were designed disregarded some general standards construction companies and architects must follow today, how were they able to be built? Well, art deco designs were possible due to New York’s 1916 Zoning Law. In an effort to keep buildings from casting shadows over the streets below, the zoning law allowed for “wedding cake” architecture since it required no more than 25% of the building’s footprint to extend upward.

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First 100% Affordable Housing Building Comes to Pacific Park

When we hear about affordable housing in New York City, we often hear about buildings with a select number of units available for lower renting prices, while the rest of the building’s units remain available at regular price. Well, that’s no longer the only case! Brooklyn’s Pacific Park development is now home to the first 100% affordable housing apartment building.

What building is it?

535 Carlton Ave is the first 100% affordable housing building in New York City. All 18 floors of the building share the same modern, visually-appealing aesthetic that the other buildings in the development will have. The building also offers amenities such as a communal terrace, gym, and bike room.

What will the rooms cost?

The buildings has a mix of studios and one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, which will range in price from $578 for a studio to $3,716 for a three-bedroom. The income requirements for these affordable units are between $20,100 for one person and $173,415 for a six-person family. Half of the 298 units will be reserved for the highest income applicants — those who make $74,606 for an individual and those who make $173,415 as a family of six.

Will the rest of Pacific Park have affordable housing?

The entire development is slated to have 2,250 units of affordable housing. Currently there are 479 affordable units, with another 303 to be made available this summer.

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We are your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

New Architecture Trends Keep Bird Safety in Mind

A few years back , the Javits Center underwent a $463 million renovation to make the building more energy efficient. Within that task, the architects and engineers were also able to tackle the big issue that came along with the structure’s reflective glass appearance: it has become the deadliest spot for birds in Manhattan.  

The Birds Don’t Perceive Reflective Glass as We Do

When flying birds encounter reflective glass, they see the mirrored images in the glass rather than the structure itself. They assume there is a clear flying path in front of them and then crash into the glass while attempting to fly through it.

• Fact: Between 365 and 988 million birds die in the U.S. each year because they crash into buildings.

A Change in Materials Makes All the Difference

Rather than using reflective glass, architects and designers can switch to using fritted glass. The design of fritted glass isn’t visible to humans until they’re very close to it, but it is visible to birds from farther differences, so they can notice it and avoid that flightpath. Buildings can also use low-glare lighting to avoid attracting birds during migration season.

Several Buildings are Already Taking Action

• The Javits Center: The renovations included fritted glass.
• Fact: Almost no birds have died in that area now.
• The University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum of History and Planetarium: They added fritted glass as well as bird-friendly landscaping to encourage birds to stick around, not just fly by.

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We are your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

One Hudson Yards Renderings Revealed

Last fall, Related Companies launched the sale of its condos for 15 Hudson Yards. Now, less than a year later, they’ll be debuting their second residential building. Hudson Yards is considered to be one of the dynamic and exciting neighborhoods in Manhattan, so if you’re willing to pay for one of these luxury condos, you can call One Hudson Yards "home."

The Apartment Setting & Style

One Hudson Yard, designed by David Brody Bond, with interiors done by Andre Kikoski Architects, will be made of red stone and feature a glass facade that sits atop a podium adjacent to “The Shed” and Hudson Yards’ centerpiece “Vessel.”

The Apartments Themselves

The building will have 178 apartments throughout 33 stories. The condos will be range from one to three-bedrooms and include a single four-bedroom penthouse residence. The residencies, rumored to start at $5,095 for a one bedroom, will feature 10-foot ceilings, Miele appliances, and views of downtown Manhattan.

Building Amenities

If you land yourself in One Hudson Yards, you may never want to leave. Some of the amenities for this building include:

• An 82-foot-long pool
• An Equinox-curated fitness center
• A bowling alley
• A half-sized basketball court
• A game lounge
• An entertainment room
• A rooftop terrace
• A children’s playroom

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We are your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.