Former Sielgels store convert nears completion

Real Estate Weekly, Sept 20, 2000

One of Manhattan's largest conversions of office/warehouse space to apartments, the 250,000-SF renovation of the former Siegels Department Store -- now known as The Greenwich -- is nearing completion, said Kenneth Levien, AIA, president of Levien & Company, owner's representative on the renovation.

Along with overseeing the entire project and providing advice on the hiring of architects, engineers and contractors, Mr. Levien introduced the building's developer to Blackacre Capital Partners, who joint-ventured the project. The Greenwich is located at 65 West 13th Street.

The radical deconstruction and subsequent reconstruction required descending nine stories through the center of the 93-year-old building to create an atrium, to address several of the building's conversion issues, including lack of light and air ventilation.

"Using torches and concrete saws -- the City prohibited hard demolition -- we cut through the center of the building to build a courtyard and rear terraces," says Mr. Levien.

Other challenges in the renovation included raising steel ten stories over the building, in a heavily trafficked part of town, in order to create penthouse apartments, and not being allowed to close 13th Street, because it served as a hospital access road. "The building's renovation faced many problems in the beginning," says Alexandra Notaras, project executor for Levien & Co.

"We had to work with 33" thick masonry walls and interlocking panels that -- if not carefully cut to install HVAC and plumbing chases -- would fall apart. But, in the end, the building looks magnificent, and prospective apartment buyers are abundant."

Founded in 1992 by Kenneth Levien, AIA, Levien & Company provides a comprehensive range of project management, consulting, and advisory services to real estate owners, investors, lenders and tenants.

Recent projects include: the base-building renovation of the 660,000-square-foot office building at 685 Third Avenue, the renovation of Central Synagogue after its disastrous fire, and the building out of nearly 1,000,000 square feet of interiors for corporate clients