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The Hubert
Turning a Landmark
Structure into a Residential Gem
By Amy S. Choi
New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission mandated
that the style of The Hubert in Tribeca, recall the manufacturing
style of its surrounding properties, especially its neighbor
to the east, 145 Hudson St.
The commission's mandates did not prevent magnificence.
"The buildings around us were in a kind of severe industrial
language with large-scale metal and glass windows," said
Todd Poisson, an associate at BKSK Architects LLP. "We
recalled that with stunning large-scale windows and a mixture
of four different kinds of brick."
The $70 million structure at 7 Hubert St. includes 28 condominium
lofts, two townhouses and three maisonettes. Every one of
its units will have windows that are up to 12 ft. tall and
22 ft. wide.
Robert Siegel, head of the operating partnership and owner
of Ghent Realty Services Inc., selected Moduline Window Systems
and will install high-performance aluminum windows that replicate
the steel windows of the surrounding buildings.
Warren Cathers, project executive at Pavarini McGovern Construction
Co., the general contractor for the project, said it wasn't
easy finding windows from standard product lines that also
looked custom built.
Nearly 40 percent of the units also have outdoor space that
is engineered to accommodate extensive landscaping. And while
the exterior envelope of the building had to be designed to
fit in with the regulations of the landmarks commission, the
architects were able to design each individual unit with a
distinct layout.
"The columns and other structural elements kind of danced
through the buildings," Poisson said. "There is
little repetition floor-to-floor, which was interesting but
a challenge structurally."
There were also some potential glitches in the construction
process, even after the aesthetic desires of the landmarks
commission and the owner were met. The Hubert is just steps
away from the Hudson River-which provides the upper-level
condominiums of the 15-story tower with tremendous views-but
which also was a concern for the development team as it built
the foundation.
"We were very cognizant of the fact that we had to create
a bathtub a little bit like at the World Trade Center,"
Siegel said. "We used a mat foundation to make sure that
the static pressure from the water didn't penetrate the building.
We didn't hit water, thank goodness."
Cathers added that at first workers had some concerns about
the water during the excavation, "but after doing the
initial analysis and determining that we would do the mat
foundation, everything worked ahead pretty much like clockwork.
We have stayed within three days of our original schedule."
The foundation supports three different types of buildings
that are all a part of The Hubert: a small commercial building,
two independent townhouses and the main condominium tower.
There was uniformity from the excavation and foundation standpoint,
but the distinct façade and architectural design of
the buildings provided the engineers a chance to flex their
muscles.
"We used flat reinforced concrete in the superstructure,
but the building has lots of setbacks in it, which was complicated,"
said Siegel. "It creates lots of fabulous terraces and
interesting spaces. This isn't a typical New York City residential
building, so sometimes we had to stop building and really
think and look at it."
The development is scheduled for completion in June. Currently,
only five units are still available. The units are priced
from $3.2 million to $12 million.
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