GH Management, IMC Architecture, Complete Dev., and MNC+Sons Contractors finish The Carroll

Brooklyn, NY The team of developer GH Management, architect IMC Architecture, development manager and owner’s representative Complete Development, construction manager MNC+Sons Contractors and interior designer Classic Image, completed The Carroll, an 82-unit, luxury, rental apartment building located at 33 4^th St. in Carroll Gardens. EXR, led by co-founder and executive director John Le Vine and managing director David Korn, is the exclusive marketing and leasing agent for the building and launched the leasing for the property.

The Carroll is the neighborhood’s first new, upscale multifamily building completed since 2011. The 71,579 s/f, eight-story property features many amenities that make it a highly desirable location for young professionals and families.

IMC principal Eugene Mekhtiyev, AIA, LEED GA, said, “The design of the $23 million Carroll respects the neighborhood’s architecture and quaint character. The recent Gowanus Canal rezoning incorporated the section of Carroll Gardens where this property is located, allowing for this development to proceed. The property responds to the demand for housing in the attractive area that offers picturesque streetscapes, neighborly feel, a vibrant restaurant scene and access to public transportation.”

“The EXR team is excited to market and manage leasing for this one-of-a-kind, beautifully designed, rare property in a highly desirable neighborhood,” said EXR co-founder and executive director Le Vine. 

“The leasing for The Carroll has been extremely successful, with nearly 100 percent of units rented shortly after the building’s completion,” said EXR managing director Korn. 

The project team also included structural engineer GACE Engineering, SOE engineer FNA Engineering, MEP engineer Ventrop Engineering Consulting Group, landscape designer Tier 2, and zoning and permitting consultant CORE Consultants. Webster Bank provided construction debt financing for the project.

Amenities

The building, which provides thoughtfully curated interiors and 12,000 s/f of premium amenity spaces, offers views of Brooklyn and New York City from three outdoor areas on the ground floor, seventh floor setback and rooftop. The lower level features a fitness center with gym equipment and dedicated space for yoga; laundry facilities with modern washers and dryers, seating areas and folding stations; a pet spa with professional grooming stations and bathing areas; and a storage area. The first floor houses a lobby lounge; working-from-home co-working space that features high-speed internet, ergonomic furniture, meeting rooms, and quiet zones for focused work; a kid’s room with space to play, learn and make new friends; and a lounge, bike room and outdoor garden. 

The project features several inventive and unusual design solutions that accommodate the needs of tenants. “The co-working space has a glassed wall that looks into the child play area, a very innovative design solution that allows parents to work from home and not be interrupted, while still supervising their children’s play,” said Mekhtiyev. 

There is a large, landscaped terrace to the rear of the entrance lobby which provides a visible connection to nature as soon as you enter the building. The seventh floor includes an open-air dog run with turfing and fenced edges, rooftop space with sunbeds, and library with soft seating and quiet spaces for reading. The rooftop houses a lounge, pergola and grilling stations. The building also includes a state-of-art entertainment room featuring premium surround sound, plush seating, and a large screen for an immersive cinematic experience.

The residences’ design incorporates sophisticated details that reflect the neighborhood’s historic charm, while delivering contemporary comfort. The units feature energy-efficient washers and dryers; chef-inspired kitchens with custom high-end cabinetry; Caesarstone countertops and premium stainless-steel appliances; spa-like bathrooms with imported marble, deep soaking tubs, oversized rain showers and premium fixtures; heated floors; oversized, floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning views of Carroll Gardens’ historic streetscapes and the Manhattan skyline; and private balconies and terraces that provide personal outdoor spaces.

The studio apartments are designed for professionals who value efficiency and elegance. The spacious one-bedroom residences provide the perfect balance of privacy and openness, with distinct living and sleeping areas. The expansive two-bedroom units are designed for those who appreciate generous living spaces. 

Background 

GH Management owners Shimon and George Hoffman have owned the site for many years and previously operated a medical supply business out of a single-story building on the site. When the Hoffmans decided to develop the building, they collaborated with the IMC Architecture and Complete Development teams to analyze the market and decided that developing an upscale property with increased tenant amenities and high-end architecture would accommodate the prospective tenants’ preferences and reflect the desirability and character of the neighborhood. 

Complete Development owner and founder Zev Steinmetz said, “The project team determined there was a demand for a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with a variety of amenities spanning outdoor areas, pet facilities and shared work rooms for residents working remotely.”

Architecture and Interior Design 

To create a modern interpretation of the local architectural vocabulary, IMC’s team developed a design that includes a light-colored brick veneer façade system that features two brick volumes juxtaposed against a terracotta “jewel” focal point in the center. 

This jewel element is fabricated of actual terracotta and provides varying textures and a multifaceted quality to the façade. The system, which was custom fabricated by Cladding Concepts International, was designed with terracotta panel elements to break up and visually reduce the mass of the building, so it reflects the scale of the other structures in the neighborhood. Germany-based Agrob Buchtal manufactured the Keratwin Collection terracotta panels in color 403, with unglazed finish and applied HT coating. Cladding Concepts International custom fabricated the rainscreen with custom clamps/clips and Omega profiles.

Another highlight of the building’s architecture is its 40’ wide x 5’ deep, vegetated green entrance canopy. The concrete structure of the rectangular, cantilevered canopy is reinforced with epoxy-coated rebar. It features terracotta cladding and irrigation and drainage systems, with pitched concrete that drains into the roof drainage system. The canopy was poured in place during construction of the second floor.

The rectangular site slopes six feet down from west to east toward Hoyt Street. These unique site conditions called for a creative approach to the building’s layout. The architects took advantage of the way the building’s sloping site to achieve increased privacy for the first-floor residents. The designers placed the building entrance on the higher end of the site and had the windows follow that, so they are higher than the sidewalk.

The majority of the building’s oversized picture windows are eight-ft. high and allow for high amounts of natural light into all spaces. The windows, fabricated in Europe, are operable and feature trickle vents. Reynaers fabricated aluminum extrusions for the windows in Belgium. GDE then fabricated and assembled the windows in Italy.

IMC also took advantage of another unusual aspect of the 15,577 s/f site, which is only 90-ft. deep compared to the typical 100-feet deep for New York City properties. This opened up the residences to more natural light and views outside and reduce the so-called loss factor, or percentage of unrentable areas within a building, such as stairs, hallways and other inner core sections that couldn’t be included in the apartments. Additionally, the shape of the site accommodated an efficient double-loaded bar design central corridor with residences on either side.

Inside the building, the lobby features decorative tile flooring and an electric fireplace. The ground floor outdoor area includes concrete slabs, gravel, a composite deck system, custom masonry planters and benches, landscaping, and a gas-fired fire pit. In addition to the dog run, the seventh floor setback features porcelain pavers, concrete pavers and lounge furniture. The rooftop has another kitchen, extensive landscaping, custom benches and planters, a turf area and pavers. 

One of the design challenges were complex zoning regulations pertaining to the development site. Thanks to its experience in analyzing zoning regulations and with support of the expediter and zoning consultant CORE Consultants, IMC accommodated the regulations, while maximizing the square footage of the building.

Construction

The Carroll features a 22-ft. deep mat slab foundation with a concrete superstructure erected on top of it. 

Location of the property in a residential neighborhood presented the construction team with several logistical and technical challenges. Cory Ekstrom, senior project manager with MNC+ Sons Contractors, said, “Since the construction site was surrounded on three sides by 11 separate, individually-owned existing properties, the planning and excavation phase called for careful site operation engineering that included extensive shoring and reinforcement of the existing retaining walls. The early construction phase included soil compaction to increase the soil load bearing.”