The redevelopment of 50 Hudson St. in Tribeca is complete, turning a 1925 factory building into a larger, six-story mixed-use property with a new three-story glass brick addition. Developer Eric Schlagman, through 50 Hudson LLC, said the work adds about 8,200 square feet, bringing the building to roughly 26,500 square feet.
The original building, designed by architect William F. Hemstreet for the John F. Sarle Company, sits in the Tribeca West Historic District near Duane Park. When Schlagman bought the property in 2006 with partner Miriam Rothstein, the facade showed years of wear, including graffiti, soot-covered brickwork, and damaged or missing windows.
The first phase of work took place in 2007 and 2008. It restored the original three floors and added a luxury penthouse with a wraparound terrace, along with new windows, a roof, a high-speed elevator, and updated infrastructure. The team also repaired masonry, steelwork, concrete, drainage, and waterproofing, a reminder that preservation jobs live or die on how well the exterior wall and water management details are handled.
Plans for a larger expansion began in 2014, and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the concept in 2017. Construction started in 2019. The project team included architect Thierry Despont, structural engineer Anthony Gennaro, and preservation specialists who helped navigate the historic district requirements.
The standout feature is the three-story addition made from polished glass bricks that were specially created for this project. The developer says the glass bricks are stronger than standard clay bricks and were engineered to support the addition. The translucent mortar joints allow light to pass through at night, while the glass reflects and refracts daylight, shifting the building’s look over the course of the day.
The addition increases the building’s height from 38 feet to 59 feet. What’s next is commercial reality: Some commercial floors and the penthouse have been pre-sold, and remaining space is being marketed for lease.
Read the full, original article from WhatNow here.