Montroy Andersen DeMarco is the architect of record for eight high design duplex units at 524 West 19th St. in Chelsea that are now under construction, according to principal Richard DeMarco, AIA, the project leader. DeMarco is collaborating with the design firm Shigeru Ban Architects.
The duplexes are housed in a new 11-story, 33,000 s/f mixed-use building with lobby and an art gallery on the first floor.  Completion of the project, commissioned by HEEA Development LLC, is slated for this spring.  
"The unique signature of the building is nine floors of metal shutters, which result in a uniform street façade," said DeMarco.  "When the shutters are retracted, enormous 20 foot-high by 15 foot-wide bi-fold windows - some of the largest active windows in the city - are revealed.  They can be opened to create a continuous floor plan between the interior space and the deck.  
"The retractable windows are a cutting-edge design element," said DeMarco. "As such, their execution required a degree of collaboration, which was rather unusual.  We had to marry one manufacturer's industrial bi-fold system with another company's residential window product.  After working with some of the best consultants in the city, we were able to produce the dynamic form that Shigeru had intended."
Execution of Shigeru's art gallery design, which called for open space and natural light, also required special coordination with the engineering team.
"Because the skylight spans the length of the rear property line, we needed to take an innovative approach to the concrete superstructure," said DeMarco. "In order to maintain the full length of the two story ceiling, we used an upturned beam in place of the traditional parapet-enclosed skylight."
Dean Maltz Architects also collaborated in the project. Tags: