HL 23 / 2009

ArchitectNeil M. Denari Architects

Executive ArchitectMarc Rosenbaum Architects

Structural EngineerDeSimone Consulting Engineers, PLLC

Services EngineerAmbrosino, DePinto & Schmieder Consulting Engineers, PC

ContractorTG Nickel and Associates

Façade ContractorVIA LLC

This 14-story luxury residential tower is directly adjacent to the New York City High Line Park. The overall building geometry, designed by Neil M. Denari Architects, has sculpted surfaces on its southern and eastern façades, which exploit air rights available in the context of the disused rail bed. The east façade comprises an inclined and under-slung, 3-dimentionally stamped, bead-blasted stainless steel rain screen. This was pre-assembled off-site and delivered ready to be hoisted into place for rapid enclosure. The north and south elevations employ a custom, fritted glass and steel curtain wall, in which the ceramic frit is a graphic representation of the building’s architecturally exposed structural steel frame. The unitized curtain wall and rain screen systems are optimized for pre-fabrication and international shipping, and to simplify site installation and minimize field joints. Front consulted on all aspects of the building enclosure from schematic design through construction administration, including consulting on the fabrication and delivery of the fritted glass façades. As with many of our projects, design engineering using associated rule-based computer models was essential to the design process, and Front’s extensive experience handling the logistics of fabrication, installation and shipping of custom materials was also critical to the project’s success.