475 West 18TH [New York, NY]

Across the street from High Line Park in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, 475 West 18th was selected as one of two winners of the 2015 USDA Tall Wood Building Competition.   This 10-story, 15 unit project ultimately did not move forward, in large part, due to the discomfort of the NY City Fire Department to proceed. “By choosing to develop a timber building, we hope to pave the way for a new method of urban construction that is ecologically conscious and supportive of rural economies,” said Erica Spiritos of Spiritos Properties. “Rooted in the forests and erected in the city, this building is a celebration of habitats that are at once ancient and cutting edge, interconnected and individual, natural and technological.”  Though ultimately not constructed, the Project served as the launching pad for our mass timber journey, starting in early 2015.