YIMBY has an exclusive new set of exterior renderings for Claremont Hall, a topped-out 41-story residential and academic tower at 100 Claremont Avenue in Morningside Heights. Designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects with SLCE Architects as the architect of record and developed by L&M Development Partners, Daiwa House Texas, Inc., and Lendlease, the 354,000-square-foot structure will yield 165 condominiums as well as institutional offices, faculty housing, and classrooms for Union Theological Seminary. Beyer Blinder Belle is handling the renovations of Union Theological Seminary’s Hastings Hall, where students currently reside. Claremont Hall is situated by the corner of Claremont Avenue and West 122nd Street, directly across from Riverside Church, and the tower is being built by Lendlease Construction with the use of air rights from the seminary.
“With its majestic views of the Hudson River, Riverside Park and Central Park, Claremont Hall is set uniquely within the historic Union Theological Seminary campus and draws inspiration for its façade and shape from the surrounding New York Landmarks,” said Melissa Román Burch, executive general manager at Lendlease. “We are extremely proud to see our vision take shape, as both developer and construction manager, in a way that respects the historic context of the neighborhood and supports the work of the Union Theological Seminary and all of our neighbors in this thriving community.”
The first rendering, made by BINYAN Studios, focuses on the upper half and crown of the structure, which is clad in an elegant mix of bricks and stone. The massing features a series of setbacks that will serve as private terraces, and culminates in crown extension with arched mechanical grilles and floodlights illuminating the envelope. Robert A.M. Stern Architects designed Claremont Hall in collaboration with Union Theological Seminary, a 180-year-old center of theological education, and aims to integrate with the broader campus and neighborhood.
“We knew from the start that our design for this tower had to grow naturally out of the Gothic Revival character of the Union Theological Seminary, a rugged architecture softened by meticulous detailing, said Paul Whalen, design partner of Robert A.M. Stern Architects. “We have sculpted the building with setback masses and simple abstracted detailing that create a memorable silhouette against the sky while at the base we transition to a more literal use of Gothic stonework that seamlessly connects the entry facade with the surrounding historic campus buildings. The new ensemble is pulled together with a painterly mix of contrasting bricks and cast stone, integrating with the visual texture of the surroundings. The residences are similarly envisioned to inspire with bold details; bay windows and terraces that come together to evoke the Collegiate Gothic architectural style.”
The second rendering highlights the entire building in the context of the neighborhood, looking south from Grant’s Tomb down the Hudson River toward Midtown and Hudson Yards. From this view, Claremont Hall dwarfs the 392-foot-tall tower of Riverside Church, which has dominated this section of Manhattan since its completion in 1930.
Claremont Hall, designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects. Image by BINYAN Studios.
Claremont Hall will provide approximately 54,000 square feet of classrooms, academic offices, and faculty-designated apartments. The remainder of the building will be allocated for approximately 165 condominium residences in a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedrooms. Developers are also aiming for LEED Gold Certification.
Additionally, the development partnership has pledged $5 million toward the Morningside Heights community to protect and support its neighbors and has funded $1.3 million to date, enabling financial support for community groups working to address impacts of the pandemic in the community and beyond. Of this total, $1.1 million will go to community groups based in Morningside Heights over the course of the five-year pledge, including a newly created fund by the Morningside Heights Community Coalition at the New York Community Trust called the Morningside Heights Community Fund, and to P.A.’L.A.N.T.E., a group that fights homelessness and the displacement of vulnerable tenants. The remaining $3.9 million pledged will be released at the completion of Claremont Hall and enable social justice programming to develop the next generation of community leaders.
YIMBY has been told that Claremont Hall will be finished in 2023. Condominium sales have yet to commence.
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Sternalicious naturally, but “Claremont Hall dwarfs the 392 foot tower of Riverside Church” Really?
October 13 is my birthday, in a way that respects the historic context of the neighborhood. I view on the first rendering, mix of bricks and stone. It’s time to respect you: Thanks to Michael Young.
How do you figure? You find it beautiful that this building does not fit into the neighborhood, but emulates the stone facade of UTS?
This is a great example of how we can build contextual buildings while also adding necessary density.
Couldn’t agree more with Matthew’s comment. As for its height, Medieval churches were built to dominate the skyline, symbolizing the Christian God’s dominion. Now not so much. See St. Patrick’s dwarfed by the surrounding towers of capitalism.
The facade treatment is actually much better looking in reality than in the renderings…..watching the sections of facade get lifted up onto the frame in the evenings…..prefabricated sections flying in the air like angels in flight…….
Looks beautiful. Nice to see collegiate gothic architecture dominate this academic neighborhood. Maybe now Columba wont be afraid to build taller buildings the way all the churches and seminaries in the neighborhood have.
Joe, do you work for the developers or real estate agents by any chance?
#greed
I happen to think taller buildings with open space and parks at ground level is a much better use of space. Why build a short wide building?
Today is my birthday, I need a 3 room apartment and I’m homeless
at least you have time for Yimby.
I’m disabled and I need 1 bed room kitchen living room and bathrooms
My eyes are happy.
Despicable, overdevelopment of our neighborhood.
Yes this building dwarfs the beautiful Riverside Church. UTS failed to shore up finances and sold the air rights, just like JTS. What a shame.
And who are the billionaires that will own these apartments? $1 million for a studio. Y’all’s crazy. Money grab. Greed. Period.
These seminaries needed money, the same way you need money. They developed a plan. There are no tall buildings or any luxury housing north of W 96Th street. Why is that good? The neighborhood will stagnate and not evolve unless there is new life and construction.
BS. Can you afford one of these apartments? I assume the answer is yes. You could care less about the people in this neighborhood who are working class or poor. This neighborhood is not stagnating. Your monoliths dedicated to Capitalism are the bane of our existence. Where’s the next chain store going to be? Why go to Kura Kuma when you can get your latte at Starbucks. Right?
Michael, do you hear yourself? This is New York City, the center of global capitalism. Kindly move somewhere else if you have a problem with that.
Kindly move back to your own town. This is mine. Do you hear me?
I care about New York and New Yorkers.
1 million dollars for a studio is actually pretty close to middle class for New Yorker. I know you don’t want to hear it, and think that this is some kind of evil, but the only reason housing is so expensive is because people like you keep blocking it.
Meaning that there’s only enough left for those who have a million dollars to spend on a studio.
And this has nothing to do with “working class” or poverty.
Real “working class” New Yorkers are forced to save up hundreds of thousands for a down payment. Disenfranchising them further is not a worthwhile strategy for addressing poverty. This should be obvious.
I hope the residents of the new building like bells.
Hysterical
Do we know the buildings height?