Case Histories - Multi-unit Housing

This development group had a rare site in brownstone Brooklyn; a much larger-than-average building in the middle of a historic district but on a commercial street. They had to be sensitive to issues of neighborhood and context, but technically didn't have to meet strict landmark rules in their conversion of the building to market-rate condominium units. They explained that they knew of the “usual suspects” in housing in Manhattan, but would be happy to know of alternative architectural offices, medium in size, that could deliver the project professionally, efficiently and with a high level of design. Iva presented three firms, each meeting that criteria and with at least three similar conversion projects in their portfolios. Partners at two of the offices sat on the Landmarks Preservation Commission, so they were particularly sensitive to the idea of context, scale and aesthetic implications of an adaptive re-use project like this.