PROFILEnyc’s Top 5 of 2017

No city rings in the New Year like New York City. 2017 was a big year for NYC real estate as new towers such as 432 Park, 53W53, and 56 Leonard, amongst others, transformed the Manhattan skyline as they powered towards completion. Some of the world’s finest architects including Herzog & de Meuron, Bjarke Ingels, and Kohn Pedersen Fox unveiled some of the most progressive designs the world has ever seen while NYC’s top brokers continued to turn the city’s most lavish homes. Here is PROFILEnyc’s Top 5 Moments from 2017: 

1. ​Lightstone And Sir David Adjaye Announce Collaboration On 130 William, Adjaye Associates' First NYC Condo Tower

Lightstone, one of the largest and most diversified privately held real estate companies in the United States, and Adjaye Associates, the world-renowned architecture firm founded by Sir David Adjaye, have announced 130 William, a luxury condominium building located in downtown Manhattan. 130 William is Adjaye Associates’ first condominium tower in New York City. Sir David Adjaye, who was recently knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and named one of TIME's 100 most influential people of 2017, is recognized as one of the leading architects of his generation. Adjaye Associates will design both the architecture and interiors for the project. 130 William will feature 244 residences and rise 66 stories to make a bold architectural statement and unique addition to Manhattan’s iconic skyline.​ Check out the full feature here. 

2. PROFILE Exclusive: Transforming NYC's Ever Evolving Skyline At 53W53 With David Penick Of Hines

PROFILEnyc had the exclusive opportunity to tour the fast-rising ultra-luxury, supertall residential tower 53W53 with David Penick, Managing Director at Hines, and discuss with him the fast-rising Manhattan skyline and what it takes to bring such an iconic building to New York City. The ultra-modern Jean-Nouvel structure is already turning heads in Midtown Manhattan with its tapering, exoskeleton design in an neighborhood that has seen skyline changing towers such as One57 and 432 Park rise in recent years. One thing is for sure, the Central Park and Manhattan views matched with Jean Nouvel design just cannot be beat.

PROFILEnyc: Up until One57 was completed in 2014 there really wasn't any urgency for supertall towers in New York City. Since then Manhattan has seen some of the world's finest towers rise including One57, 432 Park and soon to be 53W53, 111 West 57 and Central Park Tower. What kicked off this development boom?

David Penick: Demand for great places to live. Skyscrapers have always been a large part of the fabric that makes up the New York City skyline and play a significant role in defining Manhattan. In recent years, developers have been geographically limited when it comes to sites where they can build significant projects and to maximize space the most effective way to do this, is to build skyward. New state-of-the-art and improved materials also makes building taller skyscrapers a more efficient process. 53W53 is located on a through-block site running to 54th Street, west of Fifth Avenue, in the epicenter of New York's global business, arts and cultural districts. For us, we wanted to create something that is truly unique. Read the exclusive interview here. 

3. Tishman Speyer's Bjarke Ingels Group-Designed Supertall 66 Hudson Boulevard Set To Go Vertical In Hudson Yards

Tishman Speyer's BIG-designed, 64-story office tower is just about ready to go vertical in Hudson yards. Located at 66 Hudson Boulevard, demotion and excavation work has been completed and the supertall is ready to begin foundation work. Bjarke Ingels Group, BIG, designed the structure featuring an iconic design with cascading terraces with hanging gardens spiraling down. The building will be made of column free floors, each with its own outdoor space. 66 Hudson Boulevard will rise 1,005', 65-stories, and encompass 2.8 million SF of total development. The office tower will offer most office space along with double height amenity spaces and 27,000 SF of retail space on the ground floor. Costs are expected to be roughly $3 billion. Completion is expected for 2019. Check out more renderings of the supertall here. 

4. Amenity Space at Herzog & de Meuron's 56 Leonard Finally Unveiled

The amenity spaces on the 9th and 10th floors of Herzog & de Meuron's 56 Leonard have finally been unveiled by Dezeen. The 17,000 SF amenity space features very industrial design with tons of exposed concrete and dark palate. Amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, private dining room, library lounge, indoor/ outdoor theater, children's room, "sky estuary" with 75' infinity edge lap pool, landscaped sundeck with jacuzzi, steam room, massage and treatment rooms, sauna, and conference center. 56 Leonard is a 60 story condo building developed by Alexico Group and designed by Pritzker-Prize winning Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. It features a cantilevered, interlocking design that is distinctly recognizable in the Tribeca skyline. 56 Leonard features 145 condominium residences with 10 penthouses atop the skyscraper. Units feature floor-to-ceiling glass, private outdoor space and range from open loft style to five bedroom layouts. Head here to check out the lavish amenities. 

5. Tour The Newly Unveiled Sky-High Duplex At The Kohn Pedersen Fox-Designed Madison Square Park Tower

Take a look inside the Madison Square Park Tower's newly unveiled sky-high duplex with interiors designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, and furnished by designer Cheryl Eisen. Unit 48B spans 2,169 SF and features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The residence includes a split bedroom layout, a luxurious kitchen with marble countertops and custom cabinetry, a white oak and bronze staircase, master suite and home office. The unit also features triple exposure views to the north, east and south including of One World Trade Center, The Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, etc. 48B is the last available duplex in the building and is listed for $8,325,000. Madison Square Park Tower is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and was developed by Continuum Company. Amenities include access to impeccable concierge services through the building a fitness center with a basketball court, a golf studio, yoga studio, and private training facilities; a library, a residents lounge with billiards, and a private dining room with demonstration kitchen on the 54th floor.The tower features 83 condominium units, and is located at 45 East 22nd Street. Tour the ultra-luxe residence here. 

Look Inside Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel Which Recently Opened on the Lower East Side

Ian Schrager’s new Public Hotel at 215 Chrystie Streetaims to offer 5-star luxury without the steep price-tag. Public Hotel rises 28-stories and was designed by legendary starchitect Herzog & de Meuron. The hotel features 370 hotel rooms which start at $150 per night and 11 condo residences. Rooms feature modern amenities such as an iPad which is used for check-in, check-out and services as well as an Apple TV. The hotel also features 2 restaurants by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten named PUBLIC Kitchen and Louis, which is a marketplace concept; as well as 3 bars named Diego, The Roof and The Lobby Bar. The project was developed in a partnership between the Ian Schrager Companies and Steve Witkoff, who refinanced the property with a $173 million loan from Starwood Capital Group in June 2017. 

Public Hotel has not been shy in creating controversy among opening. Lower East Side residents that live adjacent to the hotel are upset that they can see guests having sex through its oversized windows. The hotel has received over 50 noise complaints since opening but due to the acts being within the privacy of the residents own rooms there is nothing anyone can legally do. 

Construction Update: 160 Leroy Street Nears Completion, Glass Façade Installed

160 Leroy Street in the West Village is nearing completion as installation of the glass façade has reached the top, 12th floor. 160 Leroy Street rises 185 feet and will feature 57 residential condominium units, covering 184,934 SF. The units range from 1 to 6 bedrooms including a 6-bedroom penthouse that covers the entire 12th floor and features 12,000 SF of interior space and 7,500 SF of outdoor space. The ground floor has an 830 SF retail unit. 160 Leroy Street is being developed by Ian Schrager Company and was designed by Herzog & de Meuron with Madison Cox Associates as the landscape architect. Completion is estimated by end of year 2017. 

5 Bedroom Penthouse North Asking $48.5 Million in Ian Schrager's 50% Sold 160 Leroy Street

A new listing has hit the market at Ian Schrager's 160 Leroy Street in the West Village. The 7,750 SF penthouse is spread over 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and is listed for $48.5 million, making it currently the most expensive listing in the West Village. The unit also includes a private outdoor pool and 4 wood-burning fireplaces. It is listed with Madeline Hult Elghanayan, Lauren Muss, Kirk Rundhaug and Dennis Mangone of Douglas Elliman. 160 Leroy is reportedly 50% sold and another penthouse unit is expected to ask between $75 and $80 million. The waterfront building was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, inspired by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer's philosophy:

"I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. I am attracted to free-flowing, sensual curves. The curves that I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean, and on the body of the beloved woman. Curves make up the entire Universe." - Oscar Niemeyer

160 Leroy will feature 57 condo units that were designed for modern lifestyles with open floor-plans with family life in mind. Units will feature panoramic views of the Hudson River, Freedom Tower and George Washington Bridge with tons of wall space for art collectors to display their collections. Residences will also feature private elevators, 11-foot to 13-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass to maximize light.

"The only thing that mattered to me was to turn a residential apartment into a real home. I sought to capture the details of life in the details of the architecture," says Schrager. 

Amenities include a private courtyard and garden by landscape designer Madison Cox, full-time concierge, 24-hour doorman and porter, onsite resident manager, 70' pool and whirlpool spa with floor-to-ceiling glass, state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, steam room and sauna, private massage rooms, recreation lounge and parking spaces availible for purchase. 

Amenity Space at Herzog & de Meuron's 56 Leonard Finally Unveiled

The amenity spaces on the 9th and 10th floors of Herzog & de Meuron's 56 Leonard have finally been unveiled by Dezeen. The 17,000 SF amenity space features very industrial design with tons of exposed concrete and dark palate. Amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, private dining room, library lounge, indoor/ outdoor theater, children's room, "sky estuary" with 75' infinity edge lap pool, landscaped sundeck with jacuzzi, steam room, massage and treatment rooms, sauna, and conference center. 

56 Leonard is a 60 story condo building developed by Alexico Group and designed by Pritzker-Prize winning Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. It features a cantilevered, interlocking design that is distinctly recognizable in the Tribeca skyline. 56 Leonard features 145 condominium residences with 10 penthouses atop the skyscraper. Units feature floor-to-ceiling glass, private outdoor space and range from open loft style to five bedroom layouts. Photos by Alexander Severin.