27 Wooster Street is a mixed-use residential building located at the corner of Grand St. and Wooster St. in the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District. This project required a Department of City Planning Special Permit and a Landmarks Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness to be built on a vacant parking lot site.
The design of the high performance envelope was developed from the idea of taking the Cast-Iron facade and turning it “inside-out.” All the articulation and proportions present in the district would be present here, too, but on the inside of the building. Like the architects of the 19th Century, SMH+U developed contemporary techniques utilizing new materials and factory assembled components to prioritize a permeable façade that allows maximum day-lighting deep into the interior spaces. The luxurious loft-style units benefit from the extensive floor to ceiling window wall skin and the open floor plan also typical to the Soho building stock. The resulting design is clearly akin to its neighbors although in a thoroughly contemporary language. It was unanimously approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.