Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South Gets Stoned; New Renderings and Construction Shots

At the forefront of Midtown’s high-rise sierra, a new peak is emerging. Simply addressed 220 Central Park South, the two-winged development is being designed by celebrated historian and poet of the city’s skyline Robert A.M. Stern and developed by commercial and retail heavyweights Vornado Realty Trust. The tower portion of the complex has already ascended some 300 feet above street level and is noticeable from many parts of Central Park. Ultimately, it will stand 66 stories, 950 feet high, making it among the tallest residential buildings in the city. The exclusive, Central Park South-fronting wing, dubbed “The Villas” is up to the third of 17 stories and will be topped by a palatial quadplex penthouse.

Earlier this month, the tower’s warm limestone cladding was being applied to the lower mechanical floors, which will have 18- to 24-foot-high ceilings, boosting the building’s height by more than 100 feet and allowing nearly all its residences to possess Central Park views. To coincide with the construction work, Vornado recently published a collection of new renderings in a property portfolio, showing us for the first time several new looks at the project, including three full-scale views from Central Park and close-up looks at the base, porte-cochere, and an upper-level interior.

While the revised design shown in these newly released renderings is not quite as elegant as the vision released several years ago, the project remains quintessentially New York and will climb on the shoulders of the majestic residential buildings already lining Central Park South and West. Hightailing off the success of his previous work, Stern seeks to recapture the city’s art-deco pizzazz with syncopated lines of balconies culminating in an expressive crown. Like his dual-towered 15 Central Park West, 220 CPS will be split between a shorter, Central Park-facing wing, “The Villas,” and a soaring tower behind along West 58th Street. The arrangement will not only add a greater depth to the skyline but also allows Extell’s Central Park Tower, rising directly behind, to also capture far-reaching views of the park.

Mastering the experience of arrival, a sumptuous porte-cochere is situated alongside the two wings. Amenities are to include an on-site parking garage, bike room, full-time doorman and concierge, fitness center, juice bar, spa, swimming pool, squash court, basketball court, golf simulator room, weight room, yoga/pilates room, children’s amenity area, library, lounge, meeting room, dining room, and a communal terrace.

Altogether, the development will host 118 condominium residences (13 of which will be in the Villas), and as of last November, more than half the units were in contract. Reports peg the average asking prices north of $7,000 per square foot and its uppermost aerie will be an 18,000-square-foot penthouse rumored to be in contract for $200 million. Completion is anticipated for sometime next year.

Get future listings for 220 Central Park South at City Realty.

RELATED:

• 220 Central Park South Costs $5,000 Per Foot to Build, Now 50 Percent Sold
• Construction Update: Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South Begins Race into the Sky
• All 220 Central Park South coverage on 6sqft

Renderings © Robert A.m. Stern Architects/Vornado; Construction shots via 6sqft