Gabellini Sheppard

Eloquently juxtaposing old and new worlds, Gabellini Sheppard Associates breathed new life into the former Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank in Lower Manhattan, a 1912 Beaux-Arts landmark tower converted into 72 luxury condominium residences with world-class design and amenities. The 240,000-square-foot project reveals the grandeur of the historic building while bringing modern technology and a sophisticated contemporary sensibility to public spaces and residential interiors, setting a new standard in elegant Tribeca living.

The design capitalizes on the building’s original high ceilings and bronze details by Raymond F. Almirall, as well as the H-shaped floorplan that brings natural light into all the condominium units. A new minimal and modern canopy clad in statuary bronze complements the original bas-relief bronze doors with their distinctive lion’s heads, welcoming residents into a new residential lobby that begins to reveal the fusion of vintage glamour with modern design elements. 

The residential units offer graciously proportioned living spaces and bespoke details at every turn, as first demonstrated in the model units of the sales center. Balancing magnificent scale with intimate warmth and modern functionality, the homes feature large-dimension windows and doors, museum-quality stone baseboard reveals, seamlessly integrated recessed lighting, customized Italian closet systems, quarter-sawn cypress woodwork, and acoustical ceilings to ensure privacy. Fine craftsmanship is evident in the custom herringbone pattern of the hardwood flooring, which has a more subtle angle than the typical version, and other details such as the waterfall edge of the stone kitchen counter slabs. Reminiscent of the Roman baths, the master bathrooms are carved out of honed Ariel White marble and fit out with custom-designed double vanities, custom Apaiser stone tubs, and radiant floor heating. Even the residential corridors receive special consideration, with delineated ceilings and lighting used to signify the entrance threshold of each residence. 

Generous new amenity spaces at the base and top of the building offer residents a private sanctuary of health and rejuvenation to engage all the senses. These exclusive yet inviting oases comprise carefully designed spaces for fitness, play, entertainment, and relaxation. The curves of the vaulted ceiling above the swimming pool are traced from the oval stained glass ceilings and oval arches of the building’s historic Banker’s Hall, reinterpreted as a weightless floating plane framed by luminous coves. Additional lifestyle highlights include a sleek modern hamam, a cardio exercise room with a separate yoga studio, virtual golf room, game room, and multiple entertainment and business lounges nestled in the building’s foundations to form a 14,000-square-foot urban resort. The rooftop level has an indoor-outdoor rooftop garden with convertible dining areas overlooking City Hall Park and the Woolworth Building.Original carved limestone architectural details on the rooftop are restored to full glory, while new minimalist and natural elements are layered in. These include glass parapets at the pool’s infinity edge and luxurious evergreen walls laced with flowering vines, trees, and shrubs.

The condominium residences and public spaces of 49 Chambers Street exemplify the careful renewal of classical New York building from an unequivocally modern point of view. 

*Building hero image credit: Williams New York/Evan Joseph