In the heart of Midtown East, Manhattan, the construction of a 28-story residential building has recently reached street level at 126 East 57th Street. This high-end development is poised to grace the prestigious Billionaires’ Row, with ODA Architecture at the helm of both the architectural and interior design aspects. Developed by MRR Development under MRR 1326 LLC, this 346-foot-tall edifice will offer 147 luxury condominium units spanning 170,000 square feet, in addition to 5,000 square feet of lower-level retail space. WSP USA is the project’s engineering firm, and Plaza Buildings is overseeing the general contracting. The construction site occupies an L-shaped parcel at the intersection of East 56th Street and Lexington Avenue, with a narrow extension reaching North to East 57th Street.
The project’s initial phases involved excavation and piling work, which was already underway during our last update in mid-March. Subsequently, reinforced concrete foundations and substructures have been meticulously constructed. Recent images reveal a complex network of metal scaffolding, wooden fencing, and black netting, all intertwining with the steel rebar to outline the columns and walls of the ground-level floor slab. Nearby low-rise buildings to the North have been partially enveloped in temporary scaffolding to accommodate ongoing construction, and in the near future, we expect the superstructure to become increasingly prominent.
One notable feature of 126 East 57th Street is the narrow extension extending to East 57th Street. The entrance boasts a five-story-tall atrium adorned with bronze paneling, offering vistas of a central landscaped courtyard situated on the second floor.
Aerial renderings of the development exhibit ODA’s distinctive cubic design, complete with numerous terrace-topped setbacks along the corner of East 56th Street and Lexington Avenue. The tower’s unique massing incorporates stepped cutouts in the podium and a corner cutout approximately halfway up the tower. The grid of square floor-to-ceiling windows is interspersed with numerous pocketed terraces, and the abundance of landscaping extends from these terraces to the flat roof parapet.
Future residents of this luxury tower can look forward to a range of amenities, including an outdoor rooftop swimming pool, a fitness center, and a private basketball court. The development enjoys a prime location just two blocks south of the Lexington Avenue-59th Street subway station, which is served by the 4, 5, 6, N, R, and W subway lines. Additionally, it provides complimentary transfers to the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station to the north, serving the Q and F lines.
Anticipated to be completed in 2024, 126 East 57th Street promises to be a luxurious addition to the Manhattan skyline, with its distinctive design and high-end amenities, offering an unparalleled living experience for its future residents.