Projected Image

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

Workshop/apd had previously designed and overseen the renovation of one of the five loft apartments in the Coop. The Coop Board wanted a cutting edge design, suiting the current trends and developments in the Tribeca neighborhood. Workshop/apd seemed best fit to achieve that result because of their knowledge of the building and progressive design aesthetic.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

The building is an original cast iron loft building in the heart of the Tribeca East Landmark District, so the original elements of the façade were to be preserved and augmented in a way that would enhance them rather than conflict with them. The idea was to insert contemporary glass and steel elements that would maintain the original industrial character of the building while creating elegance that would suit its current use. One of the team's main goals was to give the small but very tall lobby space a feeling of openness and a connection to the sidewalk without compromising the level of safety. As a solution, a frameless entry door system was inserted and then covered on the exterior with aluminum louvers which would create a sense of security and help against overheating of the lobby in summer. Historically, the aluminum louvers were associated with the rolling shutters that were omnipresent on the cast iron buildings of the early 19th century. The door and windows of the ground floor apartment were replaced with custom wood frame units that would relate to the historical context in style and to the new lobby entrance in proportion. Aluminum louvers were added to the transoms of each window bay for shading, also creating a uniform design gesture across the façade.

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

The original design included a glass-and-steel canopy which had to be omitted due to the Landmark Preservation Commission's intervention. Though very common in Tribeca West, historical proof of awnings on this block could not be produced. Otherwise, the realized project remained very close to the design and the photos of the completed building look exactly like the renderings that were approved by the Landmark Preservation Commission.

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

This project was very unique for our firm, which has gained its reputation mostly in upscale private residential projects. However, workshop/apd has had many years of experience designing and building in historical contexts, specifically Nantucket, and is involved in ground-up façade projects in NYC. Currently, workshop/apd is overseeing the renovation and 25,000sf expansion of the 1857 Marine Commandant's Residence at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and is completing an 8,000sf new townhouse on the Upper West Side.

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building's design and construction has influenced?

The layering and screening of glass facades for ecological, aesthetic, and privacy reasons is an issue that architects have experimented with and mastered over recent decades. Besides the aluminum louvers in this project, Workshop/apd has used wooden screens on houses in rural context, ceramic baguettes on city townhouses, and currently a CNC-perforated metal screen for a new building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

E-mail interview conducted by John Hill