2.5K 
While a pier in Jersey City may seem like an unlikely destination for a series of luxury condos and office towers, redevelopment efforts now well underway along the western bank of the Hudson River have produced an array of sparkling new developments on the former industrial lands that have been wholly transformed by efforts stretching back to the mid-1980s. Out of this fresh crop of development, the latest to rise is a 43-storey apartment tower designed by Arquitectonica for LeFrak Organization, known as Ellipse. Today, almost a year after we first broke news of this development, progress has moved well past the ground breaking, and the structure now stands roughly 36 storeys high and is likely to top off in the coming weeks.
Named for its signature curves, the oval-shaped apartment tower was designed to provide the majority of its 376 units with views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River, a task that will be all the more possible thanks to its strategic position upon a former pier. In order to build in such close proximity to the water's edge, significant engineering efforts have been performed at the build site to ensure residents' safety in case of a severe storm or flood.
To be clad from top to bottom in a series of curved glass panes, residents will be treated to breathtaking views. The 445-foot tower will sport a rooftop deck and swimming pool that are sure to be popular in summertime, and the tower's prime waterfront location is the perfect spot to unwind. To contain a full 24,000 square feet of amenity space, including a fitness centre and some parkland at the tower's base, the development has taken a holistic approach to to the concept of living well.
Set for occupancy in 2017, both for residents and anticipated retail tenants at ground level, Ellipse will be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, the tower just the latest in a series of waterfront developments that are part of the ongoing rebirth and renaissance of Jersey City.
SkyriseCities will be sure to 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.
