Meet The Centrale: A Soaring New Marker on the Midtown Skyline

By CityRealty Staff | From Future New York Friday, January 4, 2019

Renderings of The Centrale via SMI USA and Ceruzzi Properties

Peering over the canyons of Midtown East is a new 803-foot-tall skyscraper christened The Centrale. Sales are expected to launch this spring when 124 luxury condos will come to market featuring modern finishes, high-end materials, and breathtaking views. According to the project team, led by developers SMI USA and Cerruzi Properties, the residences will span an average of 1,456 square feet and interiors will be refined by acclaimed interior designer Champalimaud. The Manhattan-based firm's work includes apartments within The Carlyle, The Pierre, One Waterline Square, and The Chamberlain.

The venture first surfaced in 2013 when its midblock site at 138 East 50th Street traded hands from the great tower-builder Gary Barnett to a partnership of developers led by Ceruzzi Properties. SLCE, who is serving as the project's executive architects filed the first permits to build the 64-floor building in 2014. The project's central location is a short walk to Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center and quick commute to Amazon-ready Long Island City.

For passersby walking down Lexington Avenue, The Centrale stands out for its slender profile and exceptional height that rivals nearby icons such as 30 Rockefeller Center (850') and the Metlife Building (808'). The overall design was steered by the international architects of Pelli Clarke Pelli (think One Beacon Court and The Visionaire) who drew up a mostly reflective-glass curtain wall enhanced by cream- and chocolate-colored terracotta panels. They explain, "The building combines contrasting qualities of classic Manhattan Art Deco with contemporary biophilic accents...The composition of glass and masonry, smoothness and texture, amplifies the alternating setbacks with dynamic rhythms of angled reflections."

Porte-Cochere

Due to the tower's slenderness, where floorplates average roughly 3,000 square feet, a 400-ton tuned mass damper at the top of the building will mitigate its sway, ensuring resident comfort. A short-list of amenities includes on-site parking, resident storage, a swimming pool, and a fitness center. Plans are pricing will be released in the coming month. Sales and marketing for The Centrale is being handled by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.