Renowned architect Sir David Adjaye reimagines the Downtown skyline with his first luxury highrise at 130 William.
New York has always been a Siren’s call for innovation—a place where big thinkers thrive. And so Lightstone, the real estate development giant responsible for 130 William’s production, gave international architect, Sir David Adjaye a ring.
“We did not want a plug and play tower,” says Scott Avram, SVP of development at Lightstone. “That was not our vision. When we met David, it was clear we wanted the same things.”
The exterior of 130 William will recall the neighborhood’s former, far grittier, stone masonry aesthetic. Standing tall in Lower Manhattan, the building will simultaneously balance a massive, black hand-cast concrete facade with airy, curvaceous windows and balconies jutting out over the city. The entire exterior will be swathed in a light texture for added visual interest. “It’s going to stand out in the skyline because we’re using a really heavy textured concrete,” explains Avram. “And you don’t really see it in black either.”
Adjaye’s use of unusual shapes and materials to fabricate a visually arresting, but tranquil space will attract designphiles and luxury hounds alike. Upon completion, the building will feature 244 residences, each outfitted with oversized, arched windows, harkening back to the era when lofts ruled Lower Manhattan, and custom designed bronze fixtures and hardware by Adjaye.
“David hand-selected the marble blocks in Italy for the kitchen and bathrooms,” says Avram. “The level of craft is all David’s brilliance; the entire building is incredibly layered with detail.”
130 William will enliven the Lower Manhattan skyline, but it will also bring more luxury shopping to the area with the addition of retail on the building’s ground floor.
“We’re really seeing a renaissance of Downtown,” says Avram. “It lagged a little behind the rest of the city, but now you can see all these great things happening, and the expanding vibrancy of this neighborhood is so exciting to watch.”
