540 West 26th Street rendering via Morris Adjmi
Blocks north of the Meatpacking District office boom, Chelsea isn’t about to be counted out as far as eye-catching office space is concerned. That is especially evident at 540 West 26th Street, where a nine-story gallery and commercial building is rising on the site of a former parking lot. Construction topped out in February 2017, and the façade is going up. Named FiveForty, the marketing website says the 165,000-SF ground-up development will offer 67,000 square feet of available office space, 12,400 square feet of gallery and retail space, and 9,300 square feet of outdoor space. Savanna Partners is the developer.
540 West 26th Street via CityRealty
Morris Adjmi’s design pays homage to Chelsea warehouses of the past, especially with large factory sash windows. They are set in a recessed aluminum grid for extra depth. Inside, elements such as blackened steel, finished concrete, and salvaged wood also pay tribute to the past while adding character and texture to open, minimalist spaces.
The building's spacious, well-lit lower levels are designed for a gallery; upstairs, full-floor offices will benefit from open floor plans, high ceilings, oversized windows, and excellent natural light. The building will also benefit from 9,300 square feet of outdoor space, including a seventh floor setback and a private roof terrace with panoramic river and skyline views.
Typical office rendering via Morris Adjmi
Gallery space rendering
Roof terrace
540 West 26th Street is wonderfully situated between the High Line and Hudson River waterfront. Its ground-floor gallery space will fit right in among the galleries and performance spaces that shot Chelsea to prominence. Thanks to the Bloomberg administration’s 2003 rezoning of West Chelsea, this area is safe from the seemingly insatiable residential demand.
Facade detail via CityRealty
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Michelle Merritt
Michelle is a contributing writer and editor for real estate news in New York City
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