Image Credit : Colin Miller Photography
Donna Dotan Photography
Project Overview
Lyra harnesses the energy of New York City living with a variety of recreational spaces and breathtaking details. MdeAS designed the apartment interiors, lobby, and amenities for the new residential tower by Pelli Clarke & Partners and SLCE Architects. Located in Midtown West near the new Hudson Yards development, Lyra is a 52-story 590-unit skyscraper offering luxury residences to city dwellers. Designed with urban living in mind, a generous roster of amenities supports wellness, work, and leisure, while the unit designs provide a serene environment for which to return home. Featuring an unexpected lower lobby co-working solarium and lounge experience, as well as a 33rd-floor Glow Fitness Center, a 34th-floor Aurora Rooftop Terrace, and Sky Lounge overlooking the Hudson River, the amenities at Lyra capitalize on everything the city has to offer.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Rockrose Development – Developer
SLCE Architects – Architect of Record
Pelli Clarke & Partners – Design Architect
McNamara Salvia – Structural Engineer
I.M. Robbins, P.C. – MEP Engineer
MdeAS Architects – Interior Architect
MNLA – Landscape Architect
CANY – Envelope Consultant
RA Consultants – Geotechnical Consultant
Van Deusen & Associates – Elevator Consultant
Kugler Ning Lighting – Lighting Designer
Vidaris – Energy Model
AKRF – Acoustic Consultant
CCA – Code Consultant
Project Brief
MdeAS was asked to envision a world-class lobby, amenities, and apartment interiors at Lyra. Upon arrival, the resident lobby features serene Silver Travertine core walls and ambient lighting. Unique to the lobby is an overlook to the level below, where a full suite of co-working and recreational amenities are connected via a grand feature stair. At the base of the stair, a shallow reflecting pool provides an air of tranquility, dividing a casual seating area from the dedicated co-working space.
At the 34th-floor Sky Lounge, residents enjoy a luxurious lounge with panoramic views of the Hudson River and Midtown Manhattan. Silver Travertine core walls from the lobby continue up to the roof, anchoring the amenity space in the clouds to the oasis at the building’s foundation. The warm hues of the stone were chosen to balance the cool blues and silvers of the façade, invoking a sense of cozy familiarity for those who call this building home. The brilliant amenities also include the Glow Fitness Center, Stellar Game Lounge with billiards, a squash court, and golf simulator.
The residences at Lyra reflect the simplicity of the modern aesthetic with oak flooring, Italian porcelain tiling, and grey-washed wood cabinetry. The millwork was thoughtfully detailed to include a wood-paneled dishwasher and in-cabinet microwave. Under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen and mirror lighting in the bathrooms enhance the day-to-day lived experience for residents.
Project Innovation/Need
Often, the area beneath the street at a building’s entrance is cavernous and unused. However, at Lyra, every square foot has been activated to create special moments for residents to enjoy. In order to save rentable area on above-ground floors, MdeAS envisioned a bonus space beneath the street that would connect the lobby to a lower-level amenity suite. By opening the floor at the west-facing exterior wall, light is able to pour in, illuminating an elegant staircase as it arrives at a reflecting pool below. The pool introduces calming visual and auditory effects while it bridges co-working suites to lounge seating. Reflections from the pool ripple across the Silver Travertine walls that run down from the lobby’s core, resulting in a tranquil oasis for residents to enjoy within their own home.
Design Challenge
Lyra was constructed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the construction industry was facing shortages and long lead teams on almost all products, including even the most basic materials like plywood. The design team had to navigate these challenges in order to deliver the project on schedule. Working in partnership with the contractor, MdeAS developed revised specifications and details to accommodate locally sourced products and alternates that could be delivered on schedule, resulting in a successful and timely completion.
Sustainability
Lyra brings much-needed housing to Manhattan by re-purposing an underutilized site. The site once belonged to Verizon but became viable for housing once the neighboring Hudson Yards district was re-zoned for residential use. Rockrose acquired the site, and the building was designed to draw a diverse community of residents.
By significantly increasing the density on the site which once housed a low-rise industrial building, the development enables a sustainable city lifestyle for hundreds of residents who use public transportation, walk, or cycle to work. Top-of-the-line amenities also allow residents to exercise, work remotely, or celebrate occasions within the building, bolstering the local community. Upon completion, the building broke COIVD-era leasing records, achieving 30% leasing within the first month, a testament to the demand for inner-city housing and the quality of the design.
Interior Design - Residential
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes and aesthetic presentation. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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