Element

Element came to life as the result of a rezoning effort comprising the few blocks of an underutilized manufacturing district residing between Lincoln Center and the far West Side, now known as the Lincoln West neighborhood.

SLCE was the lead architect spearheading this rezoning, along with land-use attorneys, community groups, and the City Planning Commission, and resulted in numerous commissions for the firm, of which Element was the second. Element was able to achieve its 33-story height by virtue of its through-block site, which allowed its height, unusual for a mid-block site, to clear the rigid sky exposure planes requisite for this area.

Its 198 luxury condominium units reside in a rounded glass cornered shaft, which embodies the aesthetic of a streamlined ocean liner gracing the New York City skyline along the Hudson River to the west. As is often the story with New York City development, the Hudson River views—as well as the dramatic skyline of the Upper West Side—were fast compromised by other major developments in  subsequent years, but the building still holds its own among its peers.

Amenities include a private landscaped park, health club with enclosed pool, Studio Maestro dance school, and below-grade parking.

AWARD:
2007 Concrete Industry Board of New York Annual Award