225 w 57th St: the World’s Tallest (and NYC’s Most Prestigious) Residence

Central Park Tower at 225 W 57th St sits along the southern edge of the park, an area that is home to a collection of supertall skyscrapers known as Billionaire’s Row. These luxury residences in the heart of Manhattan offer the best views in the city–if you can afford the price. Central Park Tower is the tallest among them, and is, in fact, the tallest residential building in the world (not to mention one of the most prestigious addresses in NYC).

Here is everything you need to know about the building, including details on its residences, amenities, and history.

The Building: 225 W 57th’s Architecture and Location

The Central Park Tower is the second tallest building in the United States, and is only beaten out by One World Trade Center. It reaches a staggering 1,550 ft. into the air, which means that those lucky enough to step inside are treated with unbeatable, panoramic views of New York City, the rivers, and Central Park.

A Mixed Use Residential Tower in the Heart of Midtown

Located just below Central Park and only a few blocks from the shopping and transportation hub, Columbus Circle, the Central Park Tower is in the perfect location for busy New Yorkers who like to stay in the mix. With Midtown office buildings next door and easy access to downtown, residents of the Central Park Tower can enjoy living close to their workplace.

But living on Billionaire’s Row is not all work, no play. In fact, there are many nearby sources of entertainment that residents can enjoy. Since 225 W 57th St is a mixed use building, that means there is plenty of shopping to be done without ever even going outside. The bottom 7 floors of the building are home to the flagship Nordstrom store.

Venturing out, there is more luxury shopping to be done at Columbus Circle. A little further North on the West Side, residents will find Lincoln Center, home to some of the city’s best performing arts. New Yorkers can take in an opera at the New York Metropolitan Opera, or a concert at the New York Philharmonic. Central Park Tower residents can also enjoy world class music even closer to home; Carnegie Hall is right down the block on 57th Street.

Finally, the Central Park Tower is only two short blocks away from its namesake–Central Park. This New York Institution is arguably the best green space in the city. It is filled with trees, grass, and gardens, as well as attractions like a skating rink, a zoo, sports areas, and performing arts like Shakespeare in the Park. Throughout the year, there are countless events hosted here, not to mention everyday delights of acres of walking trails, dog friendly zones, and bike paths.

Reshaping the Skyline with Daring Architecture

The Central Park Tower was designed by architect Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Founded in 2006 by partners Adrian Smith, Gordon Gill, and Robert Forest, the firm is dedicated to creating innovative, sustainable buildings throughout the world. Known for their supertall structures, the international firm has offices in Chicago and Beijing, and has designed buildings from Baku to Shenzhen. The Central Park Tower is their first design for NYC.

Construction began on the tower in 2018 and finished in 2021. The building features floor to ceiling windows that maximize the panoramic views of the city. The facade of the building, designed by James Carpenter Design Associates and Permasteelisa Group, is made of wave patterned, highly reflective glass set into aluminum and steel. The glass helps the tower visually blend in with the sky, blurring the line between nature and this cutting-edge construction.

The Development: the Story of the Central Park Tower

The Central Park Tower was developed by Extell and Shanghai Municipal Investment Group (SMI). Here is how they did it.

Preparing the Site for Construction

The story of how the tower came to be is longer and more complicated than you might expect. Extell first began to acquire land to build the structure in 2005. Over the coming years, Extell would also purchase air rights from the surrounding properties–like the Art Students League–in order to build a taller building than NYC codes would usually allow.

As Extell continued to snatch up land and air rights, they were also fighting an obstacle: the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. The LPC was attempting to get some of the buildings Extell planned to demolish declared historic landmarks.

After arguments from both sides in which architects, politicians, and businesses weighed in, the commission voted to preserve one building’s facade and to tear down the rest, clearing the way for the Central Park Tower’s construction. By 2012, Extell was cleared and ready to begin construction.

Financing During Construction and Opening Sales

((insert photo))

In 2014, Extell began excavation on the site, and in 2015, the foundation was poured. The construction was funded initially through a loan from the Blackstone Group. As the project progressed, Extell also brought in SMI as an equity partner, and got another loan from JP Morgan. Ultimately, the project was on track to become the most expensive condo development project in NYC history.

By 2017, Extell was approved to begin selling units in the yet to be finished building. Primary construction was completed in 2018 while finishing touches were not wrapped up until 2021. Since the project was so expensive, Extell needed to ensure good sales. They offered buyers incentives, like waiving common charges and offering discounts on the units, some of which were listed for as much as $150 million.

A saturated luxury market combined with the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic meant unpredictable sales, but by 2022, over $1 billion in units had already been sold. It will be interesting to see how sales progress in the new, post-pandemic luxury residential market.

The Residences: Luxury Living in the Clouds

Although the units at the Central Park Tower are expensive, they offer unparalleled luxury to lucky buyers. Here is the rundown of everything residents of 225 W 57th Street can enjoy.

Interior Spaces at the Central Park Tower

Glass walls give floor to ceiling views of the city and park below. The windows and high ceilings give the interiors of the residences an expansive and airy feel, letting in plenty of natural light. The residences are laid out in such a way as to make the most of these incredible views, with living and entertaining spaces situated in the corners of the apartment.

The interiors are designed by Rottet Studio, the same designer used by the Four Seasons resorts. They feel effortlessly contemporary and hospitable, featuring a light neutral color palette that can match any aesthetic you like.

The Central Park Tower’s Kitchens and Bathrooms

The kitchens and bathrooms at the Central Park Tower feature contrasting light and dark color palettes of luxurious materials–from custom Smallbone cabinetry to imported dark marble countertop vanities. The fixtures and fittings are by Dornbracht, while the cutting edge appliances are from Miele.

The Amenities: the Central Park Club

The residences are not the only aspect of luxurious living offered by the Central Park Tower; the amenities are also world class. Collectively, these amenities are known as the Central Park Club, and make up 50,000 sq ft of entertainment, relaxation, and services curated by Colin Cowie.

Entertainment

The Central Park Club is filled with indoor and outdoor entertainment to delight residents. On the terrace level, there is a private outdoor park, a lounge known as the “Living Room,” a bar called the “Terrace Bar,” and a screening room for enjoying a movie theater experience in the comforts of home.

While in these facilities, residents can order food and drink service, relax and chat on the comfortable furnishings, or play pool on the billiards table. Residents can enjoy a 60 ft. long outdoor pool with an adjacent cabana deck for relaxing with a drink after a swim.

At the very top of the Central Park Tower, residents will find the Grand Ballroom which features a sky lounge and a private restaurant. The lounge includes a wine cellar and a cigar humidor, perfect for after hours entertaining while taking in the city’s nighttime skyline. The restaurant serves menus created by Michelin starred chefs including Alfred Portale (Portale), Laurent Tourondel (L’Amico and the Vine), and Gabriel Kreuther (Gabriel Kruether).

Health and Wellness

The fitness and wellness amenities at the Central Park Tower include an indoor pool and spa, a double height ceiling sports court with large windows, and a state of the art fitness center. The fitness center has cutting edge exercise equipment, as well as an area for personal training and a beauty lounge.

Central Park

Finally, one of the most valuable amenities enjoyed by residents of the Central Park Tower is actually one that is free to all: Central Park itself. This New York City landmark is filled with biking and running paths, as well as fields in which to relax and play with family, friends, and pets.

The park hosts a stacked calendar of events throughout the year–from Shakespeare in the Park to snowy carriage rides. SInce 225 W 57th Street is only two short blocks from the Southern edge of the park, residents have unbeatable access to all of the fresh air and entertainment Central Park has to offer.

Learn More About the Central Park Tower

If the Central Park Tower interests you, be sure to keep reading New Dev Rev to learn more about not only 225 W 57th St, but also other Extell properties and supertalls going up around the city. We will do our best to keep you up to date on everything you need to know to understand the NYC real estate landscape, and how luxury high rises like the Central Park Tower fit into our city’s future.