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The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) has released renderings for what will soon become the firm's first residential project to date in New York City. Known for now as 121 East 22nd Street, the Office for Metropolitan Architecture- and SLCE Architects-designed 133-unit condo tower will be built by the Toll Brothers, and include two interconnected towers, standing at 18 and 13 storeys respectively, with frontages along both 22nd and 23rd Streets.
A complex site, 121 East 22nd Street will have multiple frontages, with the bulk of the structure occupying the corner of Lexington Avenue and 23rd Street. This larger 18-storey portion will feature a step-back at the 12th storey, allowing the overtly modern structure to better blend into its immediate surrounding streetscape.
Viewed above, a much simpler wire-frame illustration of the complete structure reveals the tower's arrangement and massing in full, with the larger portion viewed from behind and the smaller portion seen as it will appear from 22nd Street. The two towers will be joined by a ground-floor connection at the rear of each tower, the first floor to be comprised of 12,125 square feet of retail space.
Formerly the site of three separate buildings (two on 23rd Street, one on 22nd), the future site of 121 East 22nd Street can be seen above as it appeared back in 2014. Careful observers will note the looming presence of One Madison to the far right. The image below, taken from the same vantage point earlier this year, hints at the impact the new development will have on the streetscape.
Moving around to the back of the development, the site gets much tighter at its 22nd Street frontage, the parcel of land here made available following the demolition of a relatively non-descript low-rise brick structure. Seen below prior to demolition, the 22nd Street frontage will be notably smaller, wedged as it will be between two much larger structures.
Following demolition, the site has now been cleared for construction, the image below revealing the view through the site from 22nd to 23rd Street. By comparing the two sites to the renderings, a much clearer idea can be formed as to the scale and scope of the finished product.
Viewed from the rear, the project will take on an entirely different look, with the rendering below highlighting the tower's street presence along its smaller 22nd Street frontage. Here more than on the corner, the modern glass addition to the streetscape will be juxtaposed with the more historic facades of its turn-of-the-century neighbours.
Taken as a whole, 121 East 22nd Street will bring 275,387 square feet of mixed-use, residential, and retail space to Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighbourhood, an area which has been experiencing an intense period of intensification and redevelopment. The condo units will average 1,600 square feet, with amenities to include a 26-car parking garage, pool, and fitness centre. Rooftop terraces will be featured on the north building, along with private balconies.
SkyriseCities will return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
