555 West End Avenue Photo credit: Joel Pitra of DDreps
The Upper West Side is replete with magnificent pre-war architecture, yet the recent school-to-condo conversion at 555 West End Avenue stands out even among its rarefied neighbors. Officially complete as of late October, the building was brought to market by developer/architect Tamarkin Co. and CL Investment Group. A stately yet whimsical Collegiate Gothic exterior conceals 13 one-of-a-kind apartments that channel Hogwarts magic with inventive adaptive reuse. Even Apartment #3W, the smallest and least expensive unit available, spans 2,716 square feet and offers 12-foot ceilings, four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, and a never-used sticker tag of $7.9 million.
The eight-story St. Agnes School for Girls rose in 1908, at a time when stately architecture was prerequisite to conveying the value of education (read more about the building’s history here). In contrast to the name of architect William A. Boring, the ornate facade is anything but dull. White stone trim, quoin window surrounds, owl gargoyles, and crenelated turrets conjure an air of whimsy and majesty sparks imaginations young and old alike.
555 West End Avenue exterior | Photo credit Joel Pitra of DDreps
Fortuitously, the building’s former academic purpose makes for the perfect condo makeover. Soaring ceilings and tall windows are as well-suited for higher learning as they are for high-end living. A sidewalk moat fronting the buildings lends an equal degree of privacy and prestige whether the occupants are students or residents. Additionally, column-free lecture halls allow for spacious interiors and flexible layouts.
The designers’ fantasy takes greatest flight in two particular units. The arch-windowed library became an atrium-like, 42-foot-long living room with an 18-foot ceiling and a second-floor viewing gallery, the centerpiece of the 3,463-square-foot, five-bedroom #Library duplex listed for $10.5 million.
The Solarium residence is a one-of-a-kind 3-bedroom asking $18,000,000 (Tamarkin)
The school’s gymnasium and basketball court was located at the roof, beneath a 19-foot vault truss roof that resembles a zeppelin hangar, albeit one lit by a massive, pyramidal skylight. Today, the #Solarium Penthouse adapted the hall as a 37-by-35-foot Great Room, which combines living, dining, and kitchen space and looks out on a 37-foot-long private terrace through an all-glass, greenhouse-style wall. The three-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom residence is available for $18 million.
Model living room | Photo credit Shannon Dupre of DDreps
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In addition to restoring and reimagining existing space, the builders introduced luxuriant features where there were none before, such as a round-the-clock attended lobby finished in travertine, Calacatta Crema marble, white oak, and brushed bronze; a daylit fitness center that looks out onto the rear courtyard; and an oak-wainscotted rec room with a bar, billiards, darts, and a large-screen TV. In the units, white oak and marble finishes create a light-hued theme that carries through the living rooms (herringbone-pattern wood floors), kitchens (counters, backsplashes, and cabinetry), and bathrooms (vanities, wainscot walls, and mirror cabinet trim). Further details are available at the building website.
555 West End Avenue lobby. Photo credit: Joel Pitra of DDreps
The building stands on stately West End Avenue, within an official historic district that recognizes the area’s esteemed architectural character and protects it from inappropriate intrusion. The Hudson River-adjacent Riverside Park sits just a block away, while Central Park spans a few blocks to the east; residents may traverse both at leisure or for commute by making use of the building’s bike storage room. For subway-minded commuters, the 86th Street station of the 1 and 2 trains a block away offers rapid access to Midtown and elsewhere in the city.
This prime location, combined with the above-mentioned perks inside and out, have earned 555 West End Avenue a spot on our Top 10 Upper West Side Condo Buildings list, Top 10 School-to-Residential Conversions rundown, and our pick of Ten Incredible Manhattan Duplexes. Evidently, the building caught not only our attention: comedian and actress Amy Schumer, on the heels of her spring cross-country tour, has also toured a model unit at the building in June.
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