Construction Starts on Ismael Leyva Architects’ Designed Condominium

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

New York—Construction got underway this fall on The Charles, a new luxury residential building at 1355 First Ave. on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

The Charles is designed by acclaimed New York City architectural firm Ismael Leyva Architects and developed by Bluerock Real Estate LLC. Located between 72^nd and 73^rd St., the 104,000-square-foot building will feature 31 stories and 27 full-floor residences with expansive floor plans.

Residents of The Charles will be within walking distance of high-end boutiques, exclusive restaurants and world-renowned medical and education institutions. They will also be able to admire views of the Manhattan skyline.

“The market timing is right for large-scale, well-designed family apartments on the Upper East Side,” Ismael Leyva, president of Ismael Leyva Architects, tells MHN. “Our vision was to bring new architectural energy to this area of First Ave. This project represents a 21^st Century luxury residential development in one of New York’s most illustrious neighborhoods.”

Residences at The Charles will feature ceiling heights ranging from 9 to 12-1/2 feet, and Ismael Leyva-designed layouts that will provide families with privacy, convenience and state-of-the-art luxury. Residences will range in size up to four bedrooms. The building features one duplex penthouse.

The architectural firm’s design for The Charles broke with the traditional, pre- and post-war brick architecture seen so abundantly throughout the East 70s.

Most of the building’s exterior features a floor-to-ceiling window wall system, which ushers in a contemporary modern presence and allows for transparency. The seven-story base is finished with rich honed limestone. A first-floor contemporary storefront offers a glass storefront system with a granite base.

The Charles’ interior finishes and amenities were designed by David Collins Studio. Construction by designated builder Victor Homes is expected to be completed in late 2014.

TOWN Residential New Development is the exclusive marketing and sales firm for the project.