Contemporary Luxury Tower to Rise Near U.N. Office

By Erika Schnitzer, Associate EditorNew York–The 25-story Alexander Plaza, a 52-unit luxury condominium, is now under construction. Developed by Continental Finance Corporation (CFC) and designed by Sydness Architects PC, the project is set to open in 2010.Located at 315 East 46 Street, the project is in the same neighborhood as the United Nations. The building’s design juxtaposes it against the older masonry buildings in that area, explains Jeff Sydness, principal, Sydness Architects PC. “It’s a glass building with a contemporary design.”The building features a triangular entry plaza, front and back glass facades folding vertically inward and a three-story v-shaped top, all meant to optimize the views of the river and the park, explains Sydness. The north side of the building overlooks Dag Hammarskjold Park, while the plaza offers setbacks for terraces. “We created this plaza—which is not something you can usually do in New York City—on a mid-block building. We were able to do it because of the park,” Sydness tells MHN.Alexander Plaza offers one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, ranging in size from 800 to 2,500 sq. ft. Each unit features floor-to-ceiling glass walls in most rooms; granite countertops, Sub-Zero refrigerators and Viking gas stoves in the kitchens; and limestone floors and walls, mirror glaze glass mosaic tiles and soaking tubs in the bathrooms. Pricing ranges from $1.5 million to $4.5 million. Additional amenities include an Equinox fitness center, resident lounge, private storage, cold food storage room and on-site, sub-grade parking.Sydness Architects PC also designed The Alexander, a 24-story residential and retail tower for Continental Finance Corporation.