110 Livingston

Those who have never heard of the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White have likely heard of, or seen, some of their Gilded Age, Beaux-Arts buildings: the Brooklyn Museum, the Clock Tower Building in Tribeca and Rosecliff, one of Newport, Rhode Island’s famed mansions that’s open to the public. Add 110 Livingston Street to that list, built by the practice in 1926 for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The limestone structure originally consisted of 12 stories and contained a Turkish bath, swimming pool and even bowling alleys. But the Elks didn’t get to enjoy these amenities for too long since the New York City Board of Education made it their new headquarters in 1940. The building underwent another transformation when architects Beyer Blinder Belle converted it to luxury condos in 2008. In addition to overhauling interiors, they added another four stories and restored the lobby. In an unusual move, developer Two Trees Management gave ISSUE Project Room, a non-profit that showcases experimental artists, a 20-year, rent-free lease to use the former ground-floor meeting hall as a performance space. In 2021, the management company donated the 5,000-square-foot hall to ISSUE. “People are very surprised that the original features exist in the form that they do,” says Zev Greenfield, ISSUE's Executive Director and Chief Curator, about the historic architectural details. Those features "result in very unique acoustics," he adds. "What’s quite stunning about the room, apart from the look and feel of it, is how artists use the space as an instrument unto itself and how the environment crafts work and how the artists craft their work to the environment." As far as the residences are concerned, the luxury conversion maintained 10-foot-high ceilings, but otherwise started from a blank slate. Original choices for the 299 units involved bamboo floors, LED track lighting, solar shades for the 800 replacement windows, marble bathrooms and open kitchens with ample cabinets, Bosch dishwashers, Sub-Zero refrigerators, Viking stoves and Thermador ovens. Central air and in-unit Bosch washers and dryers are also standard. Most apartments are one- and two-bedrooms, with a small number of studios starting around 543 square feet. Even these offer large, open kitchens with islands and built-in shelving and bathrooms large enough for a tub and separate shower stall. However, a Murphy bed would make best use of the remaining footprint. A slightly larger studio sold for $623,000 in 2023. One-bedrooms are as small as 603 square feet, but most are larger and can accommodate a petite dining area and a king-size bed; recent sales have closed for less than a million. Two bedrooms start at 1,000 square feet and $1.6 million. These apartments accommodate entry foyers, walk-in closets and en suite bathrooms. The three bedrooms average 1,400 square feet, and there’s one 2,000-square-foot penthouse (the result of combining units) with a fenced-in balcony. A smaller three-bedroom last sold for $2.2 million in 2024. Not least, some units on higher floors also offer city views. In the public spaces, the conversion architects maintained the facade’s ornate wrought-iron entrance sign for the Board of Education, as well as the dramatic, coffered stone archway festooned with stone flowers. The restored, fully staffed lobby is a major talking point and fun to show off to visitors thanks to its ornate green-and-gold ceiling that continues into the gold elevator bank area. Plans are still underway to tackle a major theater renovation, which is accessible to the public via a separate entrance around the corner at 22 Boerum Place. In the meantime, audience members can behold decorative 40-foot vaulted ceilings and Renaissance-revival details, like Corinthian columns. Residents can, and do, catch performances there, which are held about once a week. The low-ticket prices are the same for the public. "Many residents know we’re there and engage with us," says Greenfield, adding how one of their board members also lives in the building. Another building talking point is the commissioned trompe-l'œil mural by painter Richard Haas in the courtyard. The blue-and-pink design with trellis and medallion patterns spans 12 feet on two levels and drew inspiration from the building’s original embellishments. Meanwhile, Ismael Leyva Architects designed the four-story rooftop addition in order to complement the overall historic features, opting for modern, alternating bay windows with an unassuming blue-gray finish. Beyond the tiled courtyard with the mural, amenities entail a shared roof deck with city and water views, a spacious gym equipped with the latest equipment and mirrored walls and an underground parking garage. 110 Livingston St. straddles Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights, and both offer a large number of conveniences. The former is Brooklyn’s business district; as such 110 Livingston is surrounded by various government agencies and close to Brooklyn Borough Hall. Brooklyn Law School is also across the street from the condo. But it’s not all business around here. Pleasure encompasses the nearby Gage & Tollner, a historic and recently restored fine-dining space known for its steak and oysters. Trader Joe’s is a few blocks away, along with Sahadi’s, a destination Middle Eastern supermarket, and Equinox Brooklyn Heights for workouts in an upscale environment. Stores abound, but retail (and restaurants) especially congregate along Court Street, Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue. This part of Brooklyn is a major transportation hub with 11 lines within a 10-minute walk. There’s the 4, 5 around the corner at Borough Hall, the Court Street R, the A, C, F at Jay Street-MetroTech, the 2, 3 at Hoyt Street, A, C, G at Hoyt-Schermerhorn and B, Q, R at Dekalb Avenue.