Design Vault Ep. 3 Front + York with Michelle Wagner

ABOUT THE ARCHITECT: 

michelle wagner

 

Michelle Wagner is a Project Director at MA | MorrisAdjmiArchitects. Withmore than 25 years of experience as an architect, she excels in themanagement of large-scale projects and has played a vital role in leading thedesign and delivery of some of the firm’s most ambitious assignments. Mostrecently, this includes the delivery of Front & York, a 1.2 million-square-footmixed-use multifamily complex in Brooklyn, NY. The large-scale, two-towerdevelopment occupies an entire city block and encompasses a unique blendof apartments, condos, and luxury penthouses, as well as an unparalleledpackage of indoor and outdoor amenities and more than 140,000 squarefeet of retail. Before joining MA, Michelle worked on the World Trade CenterMaster Plan and Design Guidelines with Studio Daniel Libeskind. Michellereceived a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Coloradoand is a Registered Architect, licensed in New York and Colorado.

 

ABOUT THE PROJECT: 

Informed by the past but designed for the future, Front & York adapts Dumbo's historic warehouse aesthetic at agrand scale with a contemporary residential reinterpretation.The Manhattan Bridge is the spine of the Dumbo Historic District. Its monumental stone anchor is as essential tolocalcharacter as brick warehouses and Belgian-block streets. Front & York is a new multifamily developmentinspired by the evolution of this post-industrial context. Like the bridge’s stone anchor, it is a bold contribution to theurban fabric that is emblematic of the neighborhood.The new1,200,000-square-foot building occupies a full city block, but thoughtful massing reduces its perceived size.All four facades are pulled back 15 feet from the property line to create a generous new pedestrian zone lined withmore than 140,000 square feet of retail.Continuing to recall the Manhattan Bridge, storefronts are framed with a highly customized system ofblue steelarches and industrial-inspired entry canopies featuring corrugated glass. Above, theresidential levels of the buildingare clad in acustom gray engobebrick, hand-laid and organizedinto a grid by a glass-fiber reinforced concrete“Superframe” that helps the facade read from afar.More than 2,500factory-style divided light windows providepanoramic views of Lower Manhattan, DowntownBrooklyn, and the multi-tiered courtyard at the building’s core—the largest private park in Dumbo.Within, every detail was considered. The building’s condos and apartments feature 10-foot ceilings,chevron-patterned white oak flooring, and custom millwork, fixtures, and finishes throughout.Offering one of New York City's largest and most comprehensive amenity collections, Front & York providesresidents with access to nearly 100,000 square feet of leisure and lifestyle spaces. To create a club-likeexperience for residents, most amenities are co-located on “Level Eight” within two wings linked by alandscaped wrap-around terrace featuring two outdoor pools, cabanas and outdoor kitchen space, anoutdoor screening area, and an outdoor fireplace.

front and york

 

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