128E28
126-128 East 28th Street, NoMad, New York, NY 10026
New 7 Stories mid-rise mixed use building and interiors, 25,000 SF 9 10 residential units and duplex penthouse
Completion: 2023
BUILDING
1128E128 is an 8 stories building that occupies a challenging site, comprising two zoning lots governed by very different regulations. The building is one of the several that TRA studio designed for the small infill sites still available in New York City.
These lots pose unique zoning challenges that make the developments at first appear unfeasible, TRA’s expertise with the City’s zoning regulations optimizes the site’s potential, creating maximum value within beautiful envelopes. The massing exploits the permitted zoning obstructions regulations to their full potential. The building steps back above the sixth floor, allowing for a shared terrace and expressing the duplex penthouse to feel truly like a private separate structure above.
The site is not landmarked but it is classified as contextual, it is located between the established historic Park Avenue area, and the East side fringe blocks, populated by varied typologies, including small tenement buildings.
The design, which connects symbolically to the history of the area, naturally gravitates towards the large massive loft buildings towards the West, the angular geometry of the mat aluminum pilasters create a vertical thrust which pays tribute to, and resonates with, the decorative masonry and articulated stone pillars of the landmarked structures. The folded, crisp aluminum panels, which TRA has used extensively for other projects, intentionally differ from the masonry prevalent in the area, to highlight the contemporary, but contextual, aesthetic. The composite bent aluminum panels and all other materials selected for both the exterior and the interior are energy efficient, sustainable and recyclables.
The facade curtain wall is articulated as to create an inhabitable thickened, inhabitable skin that includes bay windows and window seats. The alternatively angled planes of glass, reflect simultaneously the sky and the street below, amplifying the views of the narrow street. The modulation of the curtain wall visually extends the building height, referencing the scale and dignified materiality and rich legacy of the Park Avenue buildings. In a nod to the heroic modernist buildings of the 60’s and 70’s, the pilasters do not connect to the ground: the upper building gracefully floats above the commercial space, increasing the visibility and scale of the two-level, sky-lighted retail space.
As true of all of TRA’s new buildings, the modern aesthetic respects the context.
The rear façade makes the most of zoning opportunities, with long balconies that shield the interior of the environmentally conscious development. The design of the interior spaces, also by TRA, is as minimal and full of light as the trademark façade.
The building design and detailing incorporates the sustainable passive house tools that are part of our practice criterias, such as air tight enclosure, mechanical ventilation, thermal bridge free construction.
INTERIORS
The design concept is shaped by the desire to augment the performance of the living experience, it responds to the demands posed by the sudden change in lifestyle we all experienced recently.
The design takes full advantage of the two lots: there are only two full floor loft-like units per level. Large windows, screened by film to improve comfort, offer rare natural cross ventilation, passive house practices, attention to acoustics, air-control devices and building-wide water filtration, all contribute to shape an environment that promotes mental wellness. To refresh and recharge, the visitor enters a serene lobby chlad with a tridimensional light wood screen whose design recalls the folds of the pilasters,every unit is connected to a private outdoor space, they all alsoenjoy a shared recreation space with views of the Empire State and Chrysler’s buildings.
The house public space, where different living modes are made possible, is truly multipurpose: the open living area can be used for group activities, lounging, entertaining, working or dining. The smart kitchen houses two ovens, the oversized multifunctional island serves as prep-area, bar, family dining or additional workplace; individual washer and dryer, the dedicated storage and bike room, all augment the interior space
The den, which doubles as working space, easily transforms into a guest bedroom, it is a quiet retreat where to relax, acoustically separated from the other activities of the house.
Even the circulation space is multifunctional: It doubles as a gallery, complete with a museum-quality display system, the closet doors conceal the technology panels, humidifier and storage for folding dining chairs.
The natural materials, grouped into a cool palette for the East units and warm palette for the West line, include, in the lobby, large slabs of stone and a custom wood “curtain wall” which recalls the exterior facade, custom wide width plank wood flooring throughout, smooth Venetian terrazzo slabs in the kitchen, calming large format porcelain tiles from Spain in the bathrooms, Italian kitchen cabinets and custom closets.
The duplex penthouse is designed like a private maisonnette in the sky, with multiple outdoor spaces, ranging from private to public, where to safely gather.
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Although the design was initiated in 2016, long before the new energy codes came into effect, sustainable practices across all scales, down to detailing, informed the design process.
At the client’s request, analytic tools such as acoustical reports, com-check and fenestration testing and extensive mock-ups were employed throughout the process.
The pragmatic responses incorporated in the design development and construction documents, are intended to reduce the building’s embodied energy, while increasing the health performance of both the building and maximize the comfort of its inhabitants. Airtight construction, thermal bridge free construction, large expanses of glass combined with shading strategies, climate control VRF systems keep extreme temperatures noise and pollution out. Zoned Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems are designed to provide an efficient way to heat and cool the building. The all-electric VRF system provides reduced operating costs and improves occupant comfort while while reducing the CO2 emissions of the building.
The spaces that require mechanical ventilation within the units are the interior bathrooms and kitchens. These spaces within the residential units are equipped with vertical ducts with a fan, which terminates to the outside air. General exhaust and common are ventilated by a high efficiency Energy Recovery Ventilator that reclaims exhaust air heat and moisture.
Other sustainable practices tools such the water retention blue-roof system, building wide water filtration, water conservation, air purifier and dehumidification systems and electrical appliances have been specified.
Resilient, low maintenance recyclable, economical materials such as composite aluminum panels, (sparingly used for the façade architectural elements) and porcelain tiles have been responsibly sourced for both the exterior and the interior of the building.
The project celebrates local craft; the New York façade installer and has collaborated with the design team on most of the studio’s past projects.
128-East-28th-Street-NoMad-NYC
TEAM
Developer :Charlie Sinha
Architect: TRA studio
Interiors: TRA studio
Structural and SOE Engineer: Wexler Associates
MEP Engineer: Jack Green and Associates’
Zoning Consultant: Jam Consultants
Interiors and lighting: TRA studio
Facade Consultant: FSA Associates
Elevator Consultant: Hubert H. Hayes
Acoustical Consultant: Jaffe Holden
Real Estate Company: Robert Morrison, Douglas Elliman
NEWS
Residential developments taking Kips Bay by storm” Cityrealty/future New York
newyorkyimby.com-construction-resumes-at-128-east-28th-street-in-nomad-manhattan
newyorkyimby.com-east-28th-street-awaits-facade-installation-in-nomad
Sinha planning eight-story luxury apartment building at 128 East 28th St. in NoMad
yimbynews-revealed-eight-story-10-unit-mixed-use-building-planned-at-128-east-28th-street-nomad’
128 East 28th: New condo honed by TRA Studio releases new renderings and tops out construction -City Realty/future New York
https://twitter.com/RE_Weekly
https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/features/future-nyc/tra-studio-releases-renderings
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