New York, New York, USA
Rising at 470 Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, Charlotte of the Upper West Side is a nine-story residential building that redefines sustainable luxury in a historic context.
Located within the Upper West Side / Central Park West Historic District, it is the first condominium in Manhattan certified by the Passive House Institute as a Low Energy Building in a landmark district.
Charlotte of the Upper West Side at 470 Columbus by BKSK Architects, won an American Architecture Award 2025 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
The design blends contemporary architecture with references to the neighborhood’s historic character.
Its standout feature—terra cotta, baguette-shaped fins—acts as both a visual and environmental solution.
These elements reduce solar gain in summer while allowing sunlight in during winter, supporting energy efficiency while maintaining harmony with surrounding architecture by subtly screening large windows.
Driven by a vision of creating a healthier living environment, the client embraced Passive House standards to prioritize energy performance, indoor air quality, and occupant comfort.
The result is a high-performance building that also delivers on luxury, offering amenities such as a penthouse, garden spaces, and ground-floor retail.
One of the project’s key challenges was balancing strict environmental performance with desirable residential features, such as gas stoves.
Through careful design strategies, the building achieves both high performance and refined living standards, demonstrating that sustainability and comfort can coexist.
Charlotte sets an important precedent for future residential developments in New York City.
By combining thoughtful design, advanced environmental standards, and contextual sensitivity, it not only enhances its neighborhood but also promotes a broader vision of healthier, more sustainable urban living.
Architects: BKSK Architects LLP
Design Team: Todd Poisson, William Russell, Sophie Ladjimi, Gerry Ende and Matthew Richardson
Consultant Team: Ysrael A. Seinuk, GEA Consulting Engineers, Eckersley O’Callaghan, RA Engineering, Future Green Studio, and ZeroEnergy Design
General Contractor: Hudson Meridian Construction Group
Client: The Roe Corporation
Photographers: Christopher Payne / ESTO
