Skip to Content
CityRealty Logo
Frame 122 |  https://frame122.com/photo-gallery/ Frame 122 | https://frame122.com/photo-gallery/
In loft buildings dating back to the mid-19th century, exposed timber columns, joists, and ceiling beams add a note of historic charm to a converted home. But between new building techniques, a rise in popularity, and revised building codes, a number of 21st century buildings are coming to embrace timber construction anew.
The most commonly known techniques are cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction and glue-laminated timber (glulam), which bind prefabricated timber panels, making it stronger than steel. It is also more environmentally friendly than steel, as it does not require the burning of fossil fuels during production; moreover, if sourced from timber growing in sustainably managed forests and harvested responsibly, it is a renewable resource. Another plus is a shorter construction timeline, bringing new housing units to the market more quickly at a time when vacancy is at an all-time low.

In this article:

236 East 6th Street
236 East 6th Street East Village
285 Lafayette Street
285 Lafayette Street NoLiTa/Little Italy
113 Prince Street
113 Prince Street SoHo
104 Wooster Street
104 Wooster Street SoHo
84 Mercer Street
84 Mercer Street SoHo
Cross-laminated timber construction CLT construction at Frame 122 (Frame Home)
Other countries and states have come around to the benefits of CLT and other timber construction methods, but New York is somewhat late to the party, having banned timber towers following a series of fires in the 19th century. However, in fall 2021, the New York City Council approved the use of mass timber for buildings. Two years later, in fall 2023, the NYCEDC launched New York City Mass Timber Studio, a program to support mass timber development projects. Participants described the program as a “resounding success” for the way it clarified regulatory concerns and provided regular check-ins with the Department of Buildings, which in turn sped up the design process.
The approval allows for mass timber construction of buildings up to 85 feet high, which means we won’t see CLT supertalls any time soon. However, the height limit is in line with the boutique condominiums that have proven popular throughout New York in the wake of the pandemic.

Below, we look at new buildings that have incorporated mass timber construction methods. We also look at prewar listings with exposed timber and wood elements.

Frame 122, 122 Waverly Avenue, Clinton Hill
Developed by Frame Home | Design by Brent Buck Architects
5 stories | 15 units
No public availabilities

Frame 122, 122 Waverly Avenue Frame 122 (Frame House)
Clinton Hill rental
New York’s latest CLT entrant is Frame 122, a new rental in Clinton Hill. CLT construction offers numerous environmental benefits in its own right, and Frame 122 goes several steps further by designing the building to Passive House standards. Features include high-performance windows, thermal sleeving, electric heating and cooling in all units, and solar panels on the roof.

The two- and three-bedroom units are arranged around an internal courtyard, and additional amenities include a fitness center, a communal backyard, private storage, bike storage with e-bike chargers, and on-site parking with electric vehicle chargers in every spot. The building is open for tours, and the first move-ins are estimated for March 2025.
Rental fitness center

329 Vanderbilt Avenue, Clinton Hill
Design by Aaron Schiller
2 stories | 1 unit
Not currently available

329 Vanderbilt Avenue
329 Vanderbilt Avenue dates back to 1870, when it was originally constructed as a carriage house. However, a recent renovation brought it into the 21st century and up to Passive House standards with the owner, architect Aaron Schiller, updating the interiors with timber stairs, floors, and roofs, as well as recycled wood beams and materials sourced from Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The focus was on maximizing carbon savings, but none of that came at the expense of original architectural details or modern luxuries. Features include radiant heated floors at each entry point, an eat-in kitchen with Fisher & Paykel appliances, a sunken living area with access to a roof terrace, a private backyard, and a garage with curb cut.
Living room with timber ceilings
Mass timber stairs
Den with access to roof deck 329 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York's first mass timber home (Compass)
In a statement to the New York Post, Mr. Schiller said, “I was looking to prove a point with something developers said you couldn’t do in New York. I was confident it could be done.” The results speak for themselves: The townhouse sold for $7 million in March 2024, or nearly 1.5 times what Mr. Schiller paid for it in 2016.

Timber House, 670 Union Street, Park Slope
Developed by The Brooklyn Home Company | Design by Mesh Architectures
6 stories | 14 units
No current availabilities

670-Union-Street Timber House (Douglas Elliman)
At six stories and 23,593 square feet, Timber House is the largest mass timber building in New York City. While not technically CLT construction, Mesh Architectures principal Eric Liftin's alternative suggestion of glue-laminated timber won out and let the building take shape. In addition to the more energy-efficient construction method, environmentally friendly features include triple-glazed windows, solar panels, multi-zone heat pump heating and cooling, and an energy-recovery air filtration system. The interiors have been described as modern-day treehouses, and the building is sold out.

Umbrella Factory, 710 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg
Developed by SL Development | Design by Rawlings Architects
7 stories | 69 units
1 availability for $1.7M

710-Metropolitan-Avenue-01 Umberella Factory (MNS)
As part of Williamsburg's industrial-to-residential transformation, the former Embee Sunshade Company factory has been converted to a condominium with industrially inspired interiors with exposed heavy timber beams. Large quantities of structural timber were sourced for the conversion of the existing building, and a glass and metal addition adds a contemporary touch.

Umbrella Factory, #5H (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

360 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg
Developed and designed by Flank Architecture & Development
5 stories | 28 units
1 availability for $6,975/month

360-Wythe-Avenue-01 360 Wythe Avenue (MNS)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
  1. Select which properties are of interest to you:

Or call us at (212) 755-5544
When the brick-and-beam rental at 360 Wythe Avenue and its sister project, an office building at 320 Wythe Avenue, were approved in 2017, they were the first of their kind to be approved in nearly a century. Flank co-founder Mick Waldorf told 6sqft that he didn't want to bring "hyper-contemporary glass boxes" to the neighborhood, and he has succeeded on that count: The brick facade was inspired by Williamsburg's historic factories and warehouses, and interiors feature exposed wood beams and columns.

360 Wythe Avenue, #417 (CHARNEY REAL ESTATE LLC)

Frame 283, 283 Greene Avenue, Clinton Hill
Developed by Frame Home | Design by LoadingDock5
5 stories | 10 units
No current availabilities

283-Greene-Avenue-01 Frame 283 (Frame)
Frame 283 was an early adopter of CLT, having received an exception to the building code so its construction could take place. Between its eco-friendly construction, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and HVAC systems, dedicated compost bin in the trash room, and bike room, it is little surprise that the building achieved Passive House certification. It has proven wildly popular: The building is fully leased and has a waiting list.

NYC Listings with Exposed Beams

Mason Fisk, #1D (Corcoran Group)

Printhouse Lofts, #1G (Compass)

22 Wooster Street, #PHN (Corcoran Group)

236 East 6th Street, #1EB (CORE Group Marketing LLC)

172 North 10th Street, #2D (Corcoran Group)

66 Washington Avenue, #3 (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

66 Washington Avenue, #2 (Compass)

168 Plymouth, #5F (Serhant)

16 Greene Street, #2N (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

160 Avenue of the Americas, #5FL (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

31 Washington Street, #11 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

113 Prince Street, #6E (Corcoran Group)

84 Mercer Street, #4 (Compass)

115 Milton Street, #TH (Corcoran Group)

Gramercy Park Habitat, #2L (EXP Realty NYC)

362 West Broadway, #2B (Compass)

The Roebling Building, #1N (CURRENT REAL ESTATE ADVISORS LLC)

93 Wyckoff Street, #TH (Corcoran Group)

16 Jay Street, #1 (Compass)

104 Wooster Street, #4S (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

87 Leonard, #MaisB (CORE Group Marketing LLC)

285 Lafayette Street, #2B (Compass)

115 South Street, #TH (Compass)

16 Minetta Lane, #TH (Sothebys International Realty)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
  1. Select which properties are of interest to you:

Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?