In the building boom at the beginning of this millennium, it seemed that there was new construction on every street.

On 57th Street between Third and Second Avenues, there was new construction on both sides of the street: two new, mid-block, luxury residential condominium buildings.

Sutton 57 at 212 East 57th Street was the more modest and sedate of the two: a 24-story masonry-clad tower with one setback and only 38 apartments. Place 57 was a flashier and taller project: a 36-story, reflective glass-clad angled tower with 68 apartments.

The more traditional of the two, Sutton 57 took its name from the nearby Sutton Place district noted for its attractive masonry apartment buildings. Designed by H. Thomas O Hara for Broadway Management of which Joseph Neumann and Charles Hertzka are principals, this building replaced a modern two-story building that most recently had housed The Wiz electronics store. Plaza 57 replaced the neo-classical low-rise building that house the former Sutton Movie Theater.

Sutton 57 is distinguished by a very large entrance marquee that leads to a large circular lobby. It also has rooftop illumination and a large rooftop resident's garden.

The orange-brick fa??ade on 57th Street has a setback at the tenth floor. Two-bedroom apartments were priced initially starting at about $1.5 million and full-floor three-bedroom units starting on the 10th floor were priced initially from about $2.5 million. The 3,218-square-foot duplex penthouse apartment was priced initially at about $6 million.

Apartments have Cabrueva flooring and kitchens have SubZero refrigerators, glass-front cabinetry, and appliances and fixtures by Dacor, Miele, Blanko and Dornbracht. Bathrooms have Calacatta Gold honed stone walls, a Porcher vessel sink and Jado polished chrome fixtures.

The building has a concierge and a fitness center, but no balconies and no garage.

There are no more than three apartments a floor.

There are many restaurants and shops nearby as well as good public transportation.