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Rising 37 storeys at the endcap of a block bounded by East 39th Street, East 40th Street, and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel exit road in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood, House 39 is a brand new luxury apartment building from Fisher Brothers containing 372 residences and copious five-star hotel-like amenities. Upon approaching from the southwest, the 395-foot tower's signature curving glass facade, designed by Handel Architects, rises above the double-height glass entry lobby, which is set back behind a concrete plaza that will serve as an extension of the sidewalk. The LEED Silver-certified tower is approaching full completion, which is expected before the summer. While leasing has only recently started, 100 apartments have already been spoken for, and it's easy to see why.
Upon entering through the clear glass revolving doors, the modern lobby's characteristic curving wood wall and striking double helix spiral becomes visible. Behind the elevated walkway that extends from the spiral staircase is a contemporary mailroom, bike storage, and the elevator lobby.
The second level hosts the majority of the amenities: an upcoming library, a large sitting room, a fireplace surrounded by seating, a conference room, and a kitchen with a tablet or cell phone-controlled cappuccino maker. Technology and connectivity are key in this community, and almost everything is connected via the Rose Management Group smartphone app. There are 56 outlets to charge phones and computers on this level alone.
The lobby level houses an enormous fitness room with a full system of weights and exercise machines, as well as a yoga room with free classes hidden behind a glass wall. Near this space is a sauna, locker rooms, and a children's play room. Much of the second floor space is surrounded by an outdoor play area and roof garden with shuffleboard and bocce ball courts. A full-time amenities director is available to plan events for residents like cooking classes and yoga classes, and modify the space for the residents.
The luxury interiors of House 39 feature a stylish design by the Rockwell Group which continues to the apartments above. Pricing starts in the $3,100s with studios featuring a full kitchen, bathroom, a large glass enclosed living space, a washer and dryer in a closet, and impressive views. A monochromatic colour scheme of white and several shades of grey combined with various polished wood shades create a bright and evenly lit interior with indirect distributed lighting and a few recessed ceiling lights. Most of the lighting is provided by the large floor-to-ceiling windows, lamps, and some upward-pointing lights placed on the ground which bathe the walls and reflect off of the ceiling. Natural lighting is enhanced by pulling the rounded supporting columns away from the corners, allowing the glass to completely wrap the floor plate.
Upon completion sometime in late spring or early summer, the rooftop level will feature a large pool, a party room, a hot tub, three cabanas, and incredible views, especially to the south and west. With few tall buildings to the immediate south, the view extends all the way to the Financial District, with a sea of assorted Manhattan architecture framing the image.
Before leaving the tower, a large flatscreen TV gives information about the multitude of mass transit options in the area. Grand Central Station is just three-tenths of a mile, or a seven-minute walk away, and features the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S trains, as well as about two dozen bus lines, and five lines of the Metro North Railroad. Starting around 2022, several Long Island Railroad routes will serve the station via the upcoming East Side Access. Penn Station is about 1.3 miles away and features New Jersey Transit and Long Island Railroad trains, and a number of other subway lines are available from various stations in the nearby Midtown, which is just west of House 39.
To help make sense of it all, the display screen communicates next train and bus information and the availability of CityBikes, Zipcars, and Lyft cars. If you do arrive by car, a private driveway adjacent to the lobby accesses the underground parking garage.
A unique detail that truly puts this building "Ahead of the Curve," as its promotional material suggests, is House 39's digital leasing folder. While most leasing agencies will produce a paper folder filled with pamphlets and business cards, House 39's packet comes equipped with a seven-inch digital screen that plays an informative video describing the building and its amenities. If the screen is too small to enjoy the video, it can be connected to a computer or smart TV via the provided cable.
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