540 W28th Street designed by GDSNY exemplifies the West Chelsea aesthetic. And West Chelsea exemplifies New York City’s industrial heritage.
Brick-faced landmarks like the Reynolds Metal Company, Cornell Iron Works and the Otis Elevator Company stand as tall testaments to the early 1900s when the streetscapes bustled with the construction of American goods as steaming ships idled in the once-thriving port. The new 13-story building at 540 W28th Street will have 189 units, comprised of 101 rental units and 88 condos.
Space, light, air. The Art Yard is a cool, calm collection of water and thought, the centerpiece of a building designed for residents to live beautiful, intelligent, active lives. With a curated gallery, the lobby boasts a limited edition John Pawson terrazzo bench, accompanied by Jean Prouve armchairs. Sunny weekends, barbeques and flirtations play out on the expansive roof terrace. Thirteen floors up, take in views of the Empire State Building, the High Line, the Gallery District and the Hudson River.
Settle into one of 540 W28th’s 88 homes and experience the reinterpreted industrial world that pairs sleek lacquered surfaces, raw floors and sunken fixtures with Sub-Zero refrigerators and a Bertazzoni range. In short, this existence is both openhearted and definitive, using historical context and playful modern references.
The rich history of West Chelsea informed and complimented the building design. Elevators for the tallest buildings in America were crafted in West Chelsea, grocers did robust wholesale, and sculptors carved Boston Library’s bronze doors. Today, many of these buildings, including the Starrett-Lehigh building, remain as an inspiration to the new craft class: New York City’s most progressive artists and residents.
Today the wide warehouse spaces bear their second duty as large-scale galleries. Perfect for display art, the large, empty spaces have set the tone for the reinvigoration of West Chelsea into the modern, cultural home it is known for today. The new revolution in West Chelsea welcomes booming residential development, gourmet restaurants and dizzying nightlife, all tucked between the Garment and Meatpacking Districts.
GDS provided façade design services for 540 W28th Street.
