Portfolio Category: Commercial

H3 was engaged by The Brodsky Organization to renew the residential lobby, multipurpose room, workout room and terrace at 420 West 42nd Street in New York City. The building was designed and constructed by H3 in 1999 as part of the Theatre Row development on 42nd Street. At the building’s base, The Shubert Organization’s Little Shubert Theater is one of Off-Broadway’s largest theaters, containing a 499-seat auditorium and full flytower located under the tower’s cantilevered section.

CLIENT: The Brodsky Organization
COMPLETION: 2024
SIZE: 10,000 square feet

H3 worked to renovate this existing home in Dublin, New Hampshire, to meet the client’s desire for an environmentally responsible residence that can be efficient and healthy for the current and future generations of her family.

The renovation was designed to be 100% off the electrical grid with the installation of a field of photovoltaic panels, sixteen geothermal wells, insulated wall systems, radiant floors, and many other environmentally-preferable features and strategies.
To make the building as energy efficient as possible the existing windows were fully refurbished, the exterior walls and roof were rebuilt to be well insulated and the entire envelope was sealed to minimize air leakage.

COMPLETION: 2011
SIZE: 10,000 Square Feet

H3 worked with Vornado Realty Trust to reinvent the retail, lobby, and exterior spaces of the Marriott Marquis Hotel and Theater. This complicated 125,000SF mixed-use renovation project merges retail development, theater renovation, hotel operation, giant LED signage, and difficult structural changes all under the direction of three clients: Vornado Realty Trust (developer) by agreement with The Nederlander Organization (theater owner), the 45 story, 2,000 room Marriott Marquis Hotel (hotel operator). Led by Vornado, their shared vision has transformed the hotel’s four lower floors, as well as two cellar levels, into some of the most valuable retail space in the city. Positioned above this is a 330’x78′ LED sign totaling more than 25,000sf. To view the ball drop at New Years Eve from the 8th floor, two new terraces were added as an extension of the hotel restaurant.

The project is located on the lower east facade of the Marriott, in the middle of the Times Square “Bowtie”. It now defines the center of Times Square, changing the focus of this legendary public space from The Times Tower to this new electronic place. The new sign is so big and so simple; it transcends the usual commercial advertisement, to become a floating facade that creates a new landscape. This is seen amid the jumble of competing messages characteristic of this world famous place. By making these changes to the building, the 1,590 seat Marquis Theatre, buried deep inside the giant hotel, also gets a much needed street presence with a new lobby on 46th street. Completely new back of house space was also provided. Emphasizing the need for technology, H3 designed the entire project in 3D Revit, without this technology the project’s complexity would have defied timely completion.

CLIENT: Vornado Realty Trust
COMPLETION: 2016
SIZE: 25,000SF (330’x78’ LED SIGN)

The Bayview Visual Arts Center will be a dynamic, office and retail adaptive re-use development of the former Bayview Womens Prison located in the West Chelsea Arts District. The building will be anchored by Adorama Camera, the nation’s second largest photography retailer, who will relocate their flagship retail store, rental services, and office headquarters to the building.

It is Adorama’s vision to create a new hub for the visual arts, which will not only activate the vacant facility, but enliven the block by adding a new retail presence, further enhance the neighborhood by attracting arts and multimedia tenants, and provide space for the public and the community.

The proposal incorporates the use of additional floor area located on the adjoining Laundry Building site. A seventeen story tower will contain office space for creative arts uses, galleries, and other allied organizations in the arts. In particular, the development will provide approximately 2,000 square feet of space for community facility use, to be occupied by arts partner Hudson Guild.

CLIENT: Adorama-Acuity Capital / NYS EDC
COMPLETION: 2016
SIZE: Photography Retail and Office: 69,000 square feet; Community Facility Space: 3,000 square feet;
Visual Arts and Multimedia Tenant Space: 58,700 square feet

The original row house on this Greenwich Village street was accidentally blown up in 1970 by the Weathermen, the political-activist group. The new house knits the block back together while acknowledging that its history is quite different than the other houses in the row.

The exterior was specifically designed to be different from those of the 19th century. It assumed a new structure was necessary because of the damaged walls and needed to be structurally independent from the neighbors. The Landmarks Commission specifically asked that the original building should not be reproduced, asking instead for a “contemporary design” with this unprecedented opportunity for something new.

The interior of the residence is marked by a diagonal plan creating spatial and visual diversity inside. The plan projects through the flat, continuous facades of the surrounding Greek Revival structures. At the same time, the house is integrated with neighboring townhouses by replicating their stoops, rusticated bases and cornice heights.

In 2012, a new owner engaged H3 to develop a new interior and rear façade to the house. Through careful consideration of floor levels, room sizes, and window fenestration, much of the house’s design was brought up to contemporary living standards. The reimagined concept accepts the inevitable change in the city through “appropriate” and complementary, new design ideas.

CLIENT: Name withheld
COMPLETION: 2016
SIZE: 10,000 square feet

The Brooklyn Heights Library site is one of the most prominent locations in the civic and commercial core of Downtown Brooklyn. Situated between the federal courts and large scale commercial office buildings of Cadman Plaza, and the residential townhouse scale of Brooklyn Heights, this mixed-use development will make a major contribution to the public character of one of Downtown Brooklyn’s most prominent urban gateways. This development will result in a building formed under zoning guidelines that favor visual cohesion to the surrounding neighborhood, reflecting the scale and tradition of Brooklyn Heights as well as the vital spirit of contemporary architectural design.

The building design optimizes the opportunity to create a contemporary 21st century library for the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood by carrying out the Brooklyn Public Library’s vision: to be a “vital center of knowledge for all,” to be a “leader in traditional and innovative library services,” and to “reflect the diverse and dynamic spirit of the people of Brooklyn.” Specifically, the building design will maximize the library’s street frontage with expansive glass windows that promote the activities of the patrons inside, as well as connecting the activities to a vibrant urban street life. Most mixed use developments with cultural programs minimize street frontage, but we recognize how important street presence is to the library’s success. By presenting a vibrant and populated community center, the quality of life for residents will be enhanced and customers will be drawn to the commercial space as well.

Constructed with masonry and precast details, the base of the building will feel robust and stalwart, to identify with the Library’s civic role in the neighborhood. At the same time, a composite pattern of deep mullions, large storefront windows, glazing panels and metal shading will offer a range of color, texture and shadow. Window panels will be graduated between clear and solar efficient tinted glass according to sun accessibility. In the residential tower, operable windows will allow tenants to determine their own temperature and fresh air comfort levels while reducing loads on the mechanical ventilation system. Horizontal bands of glass, masonry, and metal grilles will give the tower a contemporary impression, while continuous railings at balconies and terraces will extend the stacked character of the floors towards the outer edges of the tower.

CLIENT: The DeMatteis Organization / NYC EDC
COMPLETION: 2016
SIZE: 144,900 square feet Residential;
20,000 square feet Library;
34,000 square feet Commercial, Building Service and Parking

H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture was selected to design a 30-story residential tower for World Wide Holdings on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. With approximately 200,000 square feet and 92 units, the upper floors of the building feature family-oriented three-, four- and five-bedroom units while the lower levels will loft-like duplex apartments. The building also features luxury residential amenities such as a 42,000 square foot gym, game rooms, a billiard room, a lounge and party room, a screening room, and playrooms for infants and toddlers. Commercial functions are incorporated on the first and second floors.

The design investigates how vertically-sliced segments removed from the mass of the building can create new viewpoints from the interior spaces while reinforcing the building’s verticality. The exterior skin of the tower is subtlety patterned with alternating bands of insulated glass and textured metal panels that reflect the sky.

The base of the building, in contrast, establishes a continuity of the adjacent mixed use character of the streetscape activities of a typical Manhattan neighborhood and features limestone panels, textured metal and glass.

The space planning of the tower placed a high premium on the design and plan efficiency of its residential units. Considerable attention to achieve distinctive and highly functional plan layouts resulted in a variety of residential units that avoided repetition at each level.

Sustainability features in the building include a high performance building envelope, energy-efficient radiant heating, extensive day lighting strategies, the integration of high-quality recycled building materials, and a compact building shape.

CLIENT: Worldwide Holdings Corporation
COMPLETION: 2009
COST: Withheld at Client’s Request

The Pier 6 site at Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the most prominent locations along the restored waterfront spine of Downtown Brooklyn. This mixed-use development will be the transition between the activity of the waterfront and the historic brownstone districts of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill above. Anchoring the terminus of Atlantic Avenue and providing a visual counterpoint to the rising path of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, the development will be visible from all directions, marking the southern gateway to the park.

Two buildings are envisioned as part of the development. Building A, on the western parcel, will total 270,800 gross square feet. This building is designed for market-rate units for sale. Amenities available to residents of the building include a fitness center, a lap pool, function rooms, children’s playroom, bicycle and general storage, and parking space for 36 cars on lifts. The building will be 31 stories tall with 134 units, including 26 one-bedroom apartments, 52 two bedrooms, and 52 three bedroom units. At the top of the building, 4 penthouse-townhouse units will take advantage of views. Two four bedroom and two five bedroom units will be available at these levels.

Building B, on the eastern parcel, will total 131,190 gross square feet. This building is designed as permanently affordable units for rent. Amenities available to residents of the building include several function rooms on the 2nd Floor, children’s playroom and teen game room, bicycle and general storage, and parking space for 34 cars on lifts. The building will be 14 stories tall, containing 140 units, including 50 studios, 25 one bedrooms, 26 two bedrooms, and 39 three bedroom units. At the ground floor facing west, a 1200 square foot public restroom facility and park office area will be provided to service activity in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Due to the development site’s location within the Flood Hazard Zone AE, we have set Building A’s maximum height of 315’ above base plane as determined by FEMA’s BFE plus freeboard. Elevator machine rooms, overruns, mechanical equipment and water tanks are contained in a rooftop bulkhead extending above the maximum height, as allowed per zoning.

CLIENT: The DeMatteis Organization / Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation
COMPLETION: 2015
SIZE: Building A: 270,000 square feet / 134 units
Building B: 131,190 square feet / 140 units