1 Wall St

One Wall Street

As New York City sees more of its underutilized office buildings converted into residential towers, One Wall Street stands testament to the potential of adaptive reuse. This Art Deco colossus was first erected in 1931 by era-defining architect Ralph Walker. An almost century-old staple of the ever-evolving Financial District, the sizable office tower was home to the Irving Trust and, later, The Bank of New York. Major developer Harry Macklowe acquired the 1.1 million square foot landmark in 2015 with the aim of transforming it into a full-service luxury condominium. Eyeing the paradigm-shifting work-from-home trend well before the COVID-19 pandemic, he envisioned a space that could accommodate all of one’s daily needs and desires. Completed in late 2023, the mini-city within a city–itself within bustling Lower Manhattan–has an eclectic range of tastefully finished residences, as well as 100,000 square feet of premium amenity space. A prolific early 20th-century architect, Walker adorned One Wall with all the pared-back yet still somewhat decorative characteristics of the Art Deco style: a restraint use of fluting, symmetrical geometries, uninterrupted vertical piers and chrome-trimmed apertures. Like with many of the other monumental New York buildings constructed in the early 1900s, Indiana Limestone was implemented throughout its facade. An especially ornate dormer-style capital tops the 654-foot tower. The southern portion of the building was added in the 1960s. Working within the confines of the carefully constructed monolith was a tall order, especially when bringing a traditional office building up to present-day, residential code. For this painstakingly meticulous conversion process, Macklowe called on an illustrious consortium of architecture firms: SLCE for major internal alterations to the core structure, TenBurke for the design of key amenity spaces and MdeAs for much of the interior outfit. For all, careful consideration of the building’s storied past was paramount. SLCE was tasked with intricately relocating floor areas to accommodate a complex interplay of private and shared spaces. According to its website, MdeAs opted for a “classic with a modern twist” approach that has garnered numerous accolades, including an award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy. While the lobby features lacquered wood paneling and a mosaic tile floor reminiscent of the one within the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s main hall, an iridescent angle-pattern drop ceiling tops the 75-foot indoor pool on the 38th floor. "There's a range of residences from studios to four bedrooms, but they all come in a wide range of sizes regardless of category," says Matthew Chook, a senior vice president at Macklowe Properties, who handles sales in the building. "Many of the units have unique layouts–there are 192 individual configurations to be exact–because the historic building has unusual massing, especially on higher floors." Among the 556 residences, there are studios ranging from 503 to 914 square feet and one-bedroom units varying in size from 990 to 2280. While available studios sell for between $995,000 to $1.2 million, one bedrooms fetch $1.4 million to $2.6 million. Two bedrooms range from $2.3 million to $4 million and three bedrooms go for $3.8 million to $9 million, depending on size and position within the building. There are also a number of four and five-bedroom residences that have yet to come on the market. Given the sheer scale of this block-wide property, 88 units have been tiered into distinct collections reflective of One Wall Street's different architectural attributes. With 10- to 11-foot high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, 16 Loft apartments occupy a contemporary extension added during conversion. The Terrace collection incorporates 46 units, each with its own setback-anchored balcony. On floors 40 to 50, Tower residences are larger and have 270-degree views. The eight sizable Harbor units are situated along One Wall Street’s southern exposure with large windows looking out onto New York Bay and the Statue of Liberty. One of these residences was staged by interior consultancy and collectible design gallery, FrenchCALIFORNIA, with an eclectic yet cohesive selection of limited-edition furnishings and artworks. Most units are adorned in a sleek, airy and minimalist aesthetic that centers on the careful implementation of quality materials. Kitchens are outfitted with Miele appliances and Aran Cucine cabinetry. An overall white, leaning off-white color palette comes through in Calacatta marble and silver travertine countertops. Lightly hued oak floors seamlessly carry through from spacious great rooms to generously proportioned bedrooms. The One is a holistically branded experience that incorporates 100-thousand square feet of amenity space, mostly dedicated to an expansive four-floor fitness center. There are also children’s playrooms, a canine club and a co-working level replete with a podcast studio and room-service-like dining options. The TenBerke-designed Dine on Thirty-Nine private restaurant is helmed by award-winning chef Alejandro Cortez. A 4500-square-foot terrace wraps this integrated haunt and accommodates alfresco dining. The lobby is manned by a 24/7 concierge that provides white glove reservation and delivery services. One Wall Street’s prime ground-level retail podium incorporates a Whole Foods grocery store and premium Parisian department store Printemps’s first U.S. flagship. Area shopping options abound. Along with its status as a global economic center, Lower Manhattan’s Financial District has a wide variety of restaurants and cultural venues. Along with Cipriani and Nobu Downtown restaurants, the area also hosts the recently opened Perelman Performing Arts Center. An equally daring feat of architecture, the Westfields Oculus Mall doubles as a transit hub with multiple subway and New Jersey Transit links. The nearby Fulton Street Center has a similar combination with quick connections to all parts of the city. The South Street Seaport commercial complex and Battery Park Esplanade are a few minutes away in either direction.