Luxury Tower Completed in Manhattan
Torkian Group's 223-unit residential building near the Empire State Building features a complex cantilevered design. The project’s location near rail tunnels and Penn Station posed logistical challenges for Cauldwell Wingate, the project’s construction manager.
Cauldwell Wingate has finished work on the Torkian Group’s Solari NYC, a 42-story luxury tower with 223 rental units in Manhattan’s Madison Square North Historic District.
Located between Broadway and 5th Avenue near the Empire State Building, the 222,000-square-foot structure is cantilevered over the neighboring building. The Stephen B. Jacobs Group was the architect, and Cauldwell Wingate was responsible for the ground-up construction of the high-rise, which includes 5,721 square feet of retail. Andi Pepper Interior Design provided designs for the interiors and amenity spaces.
Logistics of the project were complex due to the site’s proximity to Penn Station, the network of Amtrak tunnels beneath it and the building’s unique cantilevering. Drilling and use of tower cranes required careful planning and work was done to minimize disturbance to the large number of pedestrians in the area.
“The proximity to major train lines and the necessary cantilevering of the building made construction of this project challenging and I am proud of the Cauldwell team for delivering on this project successfully,” Steve Jureller, Cauldwell Wingate president, said in a prepared statement.
While the final cost of the project was not available, an $88.2 million construction loan was issued by Bank Leumi in September 2015, according to Yardi Matrix data.
High-end Amenities
Amenities at Solari NYC include a spa, fitness center, business center and outdoor space on the third floor as well as indoor and outdoor lounges on the 41st floor. The building has an indoor swimming pool, yoga studio and golf simulator. Views from the rooftop terrace include the Empire State Building. The outdoor space has a radiant fireplace, theater and catering kitchen along with grilling stations, cabanas and a natural zen green-wall.
Solari NYC’s unit mix features studios, as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments. Interiors feature 10-foot- to 12-foot-high ceilings, high-end finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms with Caesarstone countertops, imported Italian tiling, custom cabinets and vanities and stainless steel appliances.
Twenty percent of the building is occupied by low-income residents under a New York City-sponsored program for inclusionary housing.
The set-asides for affordable units are important, as a significant number of luxury residential projects are in development across New York City, particularly in Manhattan. Last month, construction began on a boutique residential condominium with 20 units planned for the top of a new synagogue. The project at 212 W. 93rd St. is a joint venture between Landsea Homes and Leyton Properties.
Image courtesy of Cauldwell Wingate