Rental towers in New York City aren’t usually known for their cutting-edge designs. Sure, we have New York by Gehry and Prism, but for every one of those towers we have fifty cookie cutter developments that reserve most of their redeeming features to tenants. Distinguishing itself from the mire and adding some new flare to the Midtown West skyline is Algin Management’s 62-story skyscraper at 242 West 53rd Street designed by CetraRuddy Architecture.
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The 700-foot tall building is situated between Broadway and Eighth Avenue and replaces the legendary live music venue, the Roseland Ballroom. Channeling the vibrancy of its surroundings, the architects drew up a fluid sculptural form of curving glass corners complemented by a white-colored geometric grid of aluminum panels. According to CetraRuddy, the building’s massing responds to various site and zoning constraints, revealing inventive solutions that maximize the residential adaptability.”
Inside will be 426 studio through four-bedroom apartments with high-floor units being more gracious in size and offering sweeping views of the skyline and Central Park. Amenities will include on-site parking, a fitness center, basketball court, two swimming pools. As we reported previously, the podium roof will feature a multi-level deck designed in collaboration with Terrain Work and will be programmed with a mix of private and communal pockets in addition to lawns, an outdoor swimming pool, and a rock garden that will collect rainwater.