Renderings have been revealed for the redevelopment of 831–837 Madison Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects for Akris Inc., the project involves the construction of a 16-story residential tower at 831 Madison Avenue as well as the restoration and partial expansion of three late-19th-century row homes at 833–837 Madison Avenue. The new structure would stand nearly 200 feet tall. SLCE Architects is the architect of record for the property, which is located between East 69th and 70th Streets within the Upper East Side Historic District.
The rendering above shows the tower at 831 Madison Avenue featuring a bulky massing with two setbacks on the upper levels lined with metal railings for terraces. The building would feature a similar design to the architect’s The Bryant condominium tower at 16 West 40th Street, with a façade composed of Indiana Limestone surrounding floor-to-ceiling windows on the main western elevation. This exterior treatment is shown wrapping around the northern and southern elevations, while the bulk of the lot line walls will be clad in light gray brick with smaller punched windows. Ceiling heights will range from more than 10 feet to 12 feet, and residents on the upper levels will have views of Central Park to the west. A rear yard is also planned.
831-837 Madison Avenue model. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
831-837 Madison Avenue. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
831 Madison Avenue. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
831 Madison Avenue. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
The below diagrams detail the alignment of the structures, as well as the four-story rooftop addition at 833 Madison Avenue. The properties are comprised of two residential buildings designed by Charles Buek & Co. between 1885–1886, and a single home designed by Thom & Wilson in 1884.
831-837 Madison Avenue. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
831-837 Madison Avenue. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
The expansion at 833 Madison Avenue will be clad in brick and red terracotta.
833 Madison Avenue expansion. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
Akris Inc. purchased the four abutting properties for more than $60 million from Myles Lowell in October 2022. Ground-floor retail space will span across all the buildings.
The properties are located within a short walking distance of the 6 train at the 68th Street–Hunter College station along Lexington Avenue, and are one block east of Central Park.
The redevelopment and restoration effort for 831–837 Madison Avenue is set to be reviewed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission today. A construction timeline and planned unit count have yet to be announced.
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It’s the same building as the one on 40th. Also, they need to make the south-facing facade much less boring, especially given that those buildings are all landmarked.
At least it’s not a glass tower-
I wonder if a reddish stone such as that used for the NYU Bobst Library would fit in better here.
Dull
At least it’s not a glass tower-
These are great developments. Use the ugly poorly used building to get more density and additional usage out of the site while preservation for what makes the block unique. It also avoids the giant monotonous blocks that take away unique steeet level shops.
I will take this every day of the week. Give me dull and high quality. I’m fine with that.
839 Madison takes 831 ‘to school’
..and speaking of ‘school’ my fancy Prep School, Birch Wathen ( proms at The Plaza Hotel etc ) was basically around the corner from here, at 9 East 71st, a beautiful 7 floor mansion across from the Frick Museum and Central Park. Some years later, when Birch Wathen moved, and put its building up for sale, it became the home of one Jeffrey Epstein, maybe you’ve heard of him..
Dump’s Best Friend
All the David Chipperfield buildings look the exactly the same. Not crazy about this one in this location. Looks out of place on this block.
Yeah, this would be a good spot for a RAMSA special..
David Chipperfield has worked with Akris before to rave success. This will fit in nicely in the area and thank heavens it isn’t a glass tower.
replacing a non-discript post war horrid conversion.
not really contextual – but modern can work – see Armani new bldg down the street.
seems bulky on side street
And is it too much to ask for a photo of the ‘current’ 831 Madison that will supposedly be replaced..
I just went online to check the existing building to be replaced…it is awful.
True. But why replace awful with boring?
I am wholly opposed to this development because the 200 foot tower proposed for 831 Madison would significantly block light and air to the block’s inner courtyard which is the sole source of light for many low-rise apartments located on 69th and 70th Streets between Madison and Park Avenues. The proposal is tantamount to a hostile takeover of the block–in addition to the 200 foot tower, a 3-story addition is proposed for 833 and a 1-story addition for 837…and all 4 buildings in question would be expanded back to the lot line, further eating into a limited inner block courtyard and encroaching on neighbors. On top of the many functional negatives to this proposal, the 200 foot tower is totally mundane, lacking any of the character that its historical neighbors demonstrate and diminishing their value.
That’s a whole lot of pretextual garbage, why do you really oppose this?
Matthew, I’m wondering what you mean by pretextual garbage? The opposition to this plan in its current form in the community is based upon its negative impact, which is clear to anyone who lives here. It’s fairly obvious that you don’t. Apparently the Landmarks Commission doesn’t agree with you since it already sent the application back to be reworked by the submitting parties.
Thank you Richard, an intelligent and welcome reply ( along with benthetiger’s analysis )
These are beautiful photographs! Renderings are really nice too. Hopefully they stay sensible with the tower height…I’m sick with skyscrapers while doing some research!