Posted Aug 26, 2016, 12:22 AM
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NYC/NJ/Miami-Dade
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Riverview Estates Fairway (PA)
Posts: 45,768
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Credit: Lecom aka VITALI OGORODNIKOV
Facade Work Underway At Recently Topped-Out Edison At 27-21 44th Drive, Long Island City
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The 115-unit project is developed by Silvercup Properties, the real estate branch of Silvercup Studios. The city’s largest film and television production facility, located just a few blocks to the north, has been a Long Island City icon for decades, yet the tower at 27-21 44th Drive is their first major foray into the world of real estate.
When building elevations first appeared on the construction site’s project board, YIMBY was understandably cautious about making any judgment calls. After all, a basic diagram of the façade says next to nothing about detailing and material quality, which may make or break the look. Thankfully, the result did not disappoint when construction workers began to mount the façade veneer over the concrete structure at the end of July. At this point, the assembly of brick walls and stone window trim is moving at a robust pace of about two floors per week.
In this neighborhood of glass-and-metal-clad towers, even the more traditionally inspired designs within this former manufacturing district tend to embrace modernity. The neo-industrial aesthetic, where brick surfaces are accented with metal detailing, is particularly popular. Local examples in this style include the Dutch LIC at 25-19 43rd Avenue, the Factory House at 42-60 Crescent Street, and the slender high-rise at 42-14 Crescent Street near Queens Plaza. Instead of following in these footsteps, 27-21 44th Drive disregards modernism altogether in favor of traditional elements, albeit executed in a pared-down, minimalist form.
Stacks of subtly-textured red brick rest on horizontal metal brackets, which run along the floorplates. The brackets are effectively invisible within the finished product. This approach allows for a continuous brick surface, uninterrupted by the kind of exposed concrete floor slabs that are present on many of the city’s brick-faced towers.
Sheer, flat curtain walls tend to work best for glass-faced, modernist structures. on the other hand, when applied to traditionally-inspired designs, the effect usually, ahem, falls flat. Merely facing a building in brick is not enough to evoke the spirit of tradition, which is defined by dimensionality as much as by materials and style. Thankfully, this is not an issue here. Square, nearly floor-to-ceiling window apertures are set within deep niches, which grant the façade an added sense of depth and complexity.
Just as importantly, the windows are framed with thick limestone surrounds. Omission of window treatments, no matter how basic, is another unfortunate trend found on many new brick facades. Though these may stem from deliberate gestures towards more streamlined aesthetics, the final product all-too-often comes out underwhelmingly bare. Once again, 27-21 44th Drive avoids this common problem. The unadorned, light beige trim and contrasts with the red brick gives strong definition to the window units. Its effectiveness stems in part from the deep window niches.
When viewed head-on, the trim appears thin and minimal .
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NEW YORK | 27-21 44th Drive | 307 FT | 27 FLOORS
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