BIG's T-shaped east harlem residential building tops out in new york

a T-shaped residential building designed by bjarke ingels group (BIG) has topped out in east harlem, a neighborhood in upper manhattan. titled ‘east 126’, a name which refers to its street location, the development seeks to contribute a mix of public and private space. a connection to the development is provided through an existing commercial building that neighbors the site. this will lead into a retail space and gallery designed to encourage engagement with the community. the new building appears to hover over the adjacent property, a configuration resulting in a T-shape that optimizes the number of potential units.

the façade has been pushed inwards — resulting in a curving form
image by BIG (main image by bloomimages)

to keep the building contained within the allowed zoning envelope, and to allow more sunlight onto 126th street, the façade has been pushed inwards — resulting in the project’s curving form. ‘east 126’s unique T-shaped footprint offers a diverse set of unit sizes and layout organizations,’ explains BIG. ‘this third wing of the building appears to hover over the existing commercial building from 125th street, creating a dynamic component to the evolving harlem streetscape.’

the new building appears to hover over the adjacent commercial property
image by bloomimages

the building will be clad with an interlocking checkerboard pattern that allows for floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the 233 units, (20% of which will be deemed ‘affordable’). amenities include a fitness center, a lounge, and a workspace that overlooks the two-storey gallery below. apartments above the existing commercial building afford views over harlem towards central park and the east river, while rooftop amenities include landscaped berms, pools, and programmable roof deck for social events. the project, which is being backed by blumenfeld development group, is on track to open in 2018.

the lobby will feature bold splashes of color
image by bloomimages

a series of images detailing the building’s formal development
images by BIG

‘east 126’ has now topped out in harlem
image courtesy of blumenfeld development group

the project is on track to open in 2018
image courtesy of blumenfeld development group

project info:

name: east 126
location: east harlem, new york city, USA
year: 2016
type: commission
client: blumenfeld development group
collaborators: thornton tomasetti, langan engineering, cosentini associates, milrose consultants, eckersley o’callaghan, van deusen associates, jaffe holden, fox rothschild, zdg, trace pool design, bloom, steven winters, robert schwartz
size: 26,000 sqm / 279,862 sqm

partners in charge: bjarke ingels, thomas christoffersen, beat schenk, kai-uwe bergmann
project leader: michelle stromsta, lucio santos
project leader, interiors team: francesca portesine, rita sio
team: adrien mans, agne rapkeviciute, annette miller, ava nourbaran, chi chi lin, daniele pronesti, deborah campbell, dennis harvey, douglass alligood, elena bresciani, eva maria mikkelsen, everald colas, gabriel hernandez solano, lannis kandyliaris, jan leenknegt, jennifer ng, jennifer phan, jennifer wood, john kim, jose jimenez, julie kaufman, julien beauchamp-roy, kurt nieminen, lina bondarenko, lucio santos, quentin stanton, sarah habib, terrence chew, terry lallak, wells barber, wojciech swarowski, yaziel juarbe, yoanna shivarova

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