Apartment

Welcome back to SWA Architectures blog.  In case this is your first time looking at our amazing blog let me explain the basics.  SWA Architecture designs so many different buildings, apartments, restaurants etc. that we thought why not share with the world our great structures.  This week we are looking at an apartment that was recently finished with the design of SWA Architecture.

Here is a quick rundown of what SWA Architecture did to make this masterpiece.  The apartment was an empty loft when we first started on this project.  SWA Architecture made the space into a two bedroom apartment with an amazing new kitchen and of course an amazing master bathroom.  

Needless to say this apartment came out beautiful and the owner always lets us hear indeed how magnificent it is.  There will be more to come so stay tuned for SWA Architectures next blog post!

Zona Rosa

Hello and welcome to SWA Architectures blog where we talk about the different projects SWA Architecture has worked on all over New York City.  They vary from apartments, to restaurants, to sidewalk cafes, to even hotels.  On this blog post we are going to examine a very tasty restaurant In Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  This restaurant is of course Zona Rosa.

This vacant lot used to only have a food trailer.  People would walk up and order from the window.  SWA Architecture helped created what you see before you now.  SWA designed an entire restaurant around the trailer which is still the kitchen!  Talk about using everything that you have.

SWA first just designed a first floor but then SWA founder and boss, Steve Wygoda, decided that they could do a flat roof and have dining up there as well.  Innovative and economical, who doesn't want that.  Take a look above to see the second floor. 

The store is owned by Jorge Boetto.  This is his second restaurant, his first one is just around the corner on Grand Street, Mesa Coyocan.  I think based off what you saw here the next time you are in Williamsburg make Zona Rosa the spot to go to!

Fulton Center

Hello and welcome back to the SWA Architecture blog.  In case this is your first time reading this let me tell you what you can expect.  We will be showing you projects that SWA Architecture after its vast years of being in business has worked on.  We are very proud of all the projects that we work on and want to share them with you.  You can see below from past posts some of the projects we work on and let me tell you, we only have great ones to follow. 
This post we will be focusing on the Fulton Street Transit Center that was just opened to the public.  It is a beautiful station, one of the best in Manhattan if not the best.  The station to some can be seen as a revitalization of downtown.  A new symbol of prosperity following the attacks of 9/11.  Taking seven years and 1.4 billion dollars to make, we can sure marvel at what we are looking at.  Let me just clarify, SWA was hired by NYC Transit to consult with the design team on retail components of the transit center including the shops, stores, storage areas, access to retail spaces and their visibility.  So next time you’re by this station walk out of your way to check this beauty out.

Apartment Buildings

Hello and welcome back to another week of SWA Architecture’s look into our projects.  Like last week, we are going to take a sneak peek into a project that is still on its way to being completed.  As you can tell, these residential apartments in Brooklyn are still in the progress of being completed and we will show you the finished product as soon as it is completed.

Corigin Group

After a brief hiatus we are back with the weekly blog from SWA Architecture.  This week we are looking at two projects from the same client, Corigin Group.  Corigin is a private holding company specializing in real estate and private equity investments.  Corigin is based in New York and with a focus on real estate, it’s easy to see why Corigin and SWA Architecture make a good partnership.  In the coming weeks we will show you the various other projects that we have with Corigin.  One of the projects being shown today is complete and the other is still under construction on its way to being completed. 

The first one we’ll show you is located on the Lower East Side at the intersection of Bowery and Bond.  SWA is responsible for the design of the cellar space that is privy to the NYU students who live in the housing complex above.  As you can see by the lovely pictures, the cellar has a study area, and a rec area available to the students.  

 Now let’s take a look at the other location, 44 Trinity Place.  This place, as you can tell, is not close to being livable yet.  On the 1st floor, we are looking at a commercial space.  When we are looking at the 3rd floor we are seeing a future first class apartment.  We’ll come back to these spots when they are more fully developed and give you a good feel for them.  Don’t worry, we will be back next week with some fresh new projects to see.

 

Yale Club Grill Room

Hello everyone, this week we have a special treat for you.  We are looking at one of our most prized projects, the Yale Club Grill Room.  Before we look at the grill room here is a brief synopsis on the Yale Club.  Located on 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, at the intersection of East 44th Street in Manhattan, across from the Grand Central Terminal and the MetLife Building. 

Let’s delve into a brief history lesson about this austere clubhouse.  The club dates back to 1868 with the creation of the Old Yale Alumni Association of New York.  This association clamored for a permanent location and in 1867, the Yale Club was formally created and their wish had been granted.  The Yale Club that exists today however was furnished in 1915 after a couple of moves throughout Manhattan. 

Few facts about this club, it is a 22 story building with 11,000 members.  That would make this club the largest private clubhouse in the world.  Other than the Grill Room this 22 – story club also has two other dining spaces, the Tap Room and a rooftop terrace.  It also has three bars including the Grill Room, Tap Room and Main Lounge.  The other amenities include a banquet room for up to 500 people, 140 guestrooms, a library, an athletic center and a barber shop.  Last fun fact is that the Heisman trophy ceremony was held in the Yale Club two years following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

To sum up, this is a pretty extravagant location that SWA Architecture proudly shares as the architect, planners and expeditors for the Grill Room. 

Well this is where I bid you adieu, and stay tuned for next week where we’ll have a big project underway. 

Haagen Dazs and Olio e Piu

We need no introduction but hey, we’ll give you one any way. Welcome back to SWA Architecture’s weekly blog. This week we’re doing a double feature; twice as nice. Let’s start with an old classic that if you haven’t heard of, you should probably stop reading this blog and figure out where in the world you have been. Our first project is Haagen-Dazs, located at 55 E 8th Street. Now for all of you who do not know what kind of store Haagen-Dazs is, let me give you a brief history lesson to illustrate the picture for you. Back in the 1960’s, Reuben Mattus formed an ice cream company with his new vision of what ice cream should be. He named it Haagen Dazs. Starting with only three flavors, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. But Mattus could not stop there. He explored the world and would take exotic flavors from Belgium and handpicked vanilla beans from Madagascar. With these distinct, indulgent flavors Haagen Dazs ignited a loyal following that is still growing today. A word of mouth following from New York City allowed Mattus to grow substantially. Mattus did end up selling his company to The Pillsbury Company, which did not change his flavors and helped grow the brand to a global icon. As far as the Haagen Dazs SWA Architecture worked on, SWA was the architect, planner and expediter for this project.

 Let’s move on to our next project we’re taking a look at.  We’re moving away from the franchise and moving to a restaurant, Olio e Piu.  If you are going through the West Village in Manhattan this 4th generation hand crafted wood burning oven is a must see and the pizza that comes out of it is a must taste.  Stop by 3 Greenwich Ave for the Neapolitan pizzas, breads and anything Italian.  SWA Architecture designed the facade and presented and obtained approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Department of Buildings. 

We’ll be back next week with a fresh new project for you to check out.