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This new mid-rise rental apartment building, situated in the heart of the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, extends for almost an entire block. The building volume is divided in its center by a lobby that celebrates one’s arrival and sets the tone for the handsome and beautifully detailed residences above.
The challenge for the lobby design was to create an image of elegance, light and openness, while providing modern quality space. The objective is achieved through a careful selection of building materials and their detailing. Maple wood side walls are layered with frosted glass panels set in front on stainless steel pins. The glass softly diffuses light while reflecting adjacent materials. Slender panels behind the reception desk are lined with leather and pivot in the center for easy access to a maintenance room. The floor is predominantly limestone, with inserts of gray granite in the central area, where most traffic occurs.
The main feature of the lobby is a curved, wavy ceiling, which was created to visually enlarge the depth of the double height space and to create a gentle transition into a lower, one story area at the reception desk. The ceiling is made out of perforated maple wood panels spanning stainless steel ribs, with concealed light fixtures. Its curve continues to become the front of the reception desk. A similarly shaped glass ceiling is suspended below the wood form in the entry area and it projects in front of the building to create a canopy.
Once past the reception, the lobby is divided into more intimate spaces including elevator lobbies, mail rooms, cart storage, building manager and rental offices, serving 540 residential units. In addition, the project included common public corridors and apartment layouts with kitchens, bathrooms, and powder rooms throughout. Model apartments and temporary rental offices were designed for construction at a separate location.
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