NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST MODULAR APARTMENTS

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NEW YORK CITY REAL ESTATE

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The Stack Artist Rendering

The Stack has finished stacking. After a short delay, New York City’s first modular apartment building has finally taken shape as the last of the modules were delivered to the construction site in Inwood, Manhattan.

The Stack, located at 4857 Broadway, was supposed to be erected in April and completed by July. The project was delayed when the Department of Buildings asked to re-review the permits.

“It’s so new, nothing like this has been done before in Manhattan,” said developer Jeffrey M. Brown, adding that the DOB just wanted to make sure all the details were solid. They were, and now, by Fall 2013, residents will be able to move into the modern, pre-fabricated building whose units boast high ceilings, stainless steel appliances and custom kitchens.

An added bonus to the Stack is the art installation-like process that captivated the neighborhood. Every day four new modules were fitted into place and the building took shape before residents’ eyes. “The neighbors were watching from the sidewalk, the kids were watching from the school across the street and people were watching from cars,” said Brown. “In the first ten days we put together five out of seven floors, all of which were erected by an eight-man construction crew and a single crane.” Neighbors and architecture buffs will soon be able to view the process online, as the developer prepares to launch the building’s website, www.thestacknyc.com.

The 38,000-square-foot concrete and steel residential and retail building is the first of its kind to be built in New York City and was manufactured entirely off-site by DeLuxe Building Systems in Berwick, Pennsylvania. It was shipped to New York City in the form of 56 separate modules that now comprise the seven-story complex of 28 individual apartments with 4,000-square-feet of retail and commercial space on the first floor.

This method of construction makes for efficient on-site integration and enhanced quality control. Now that the 56 prefabricated modules (all constructed by hand off-site in a controlled environment) are set in place, move-in time will come quickly. A small team is now combing The Stack, connecting utilities and adding finishing touches, while a façade is affixed to the side of the building.

This project exemplifies the opportunity to create an exciting design for living while enjoying the benefits and efficiencies of controlled, offsite fabrication. As builders and developers, we are intrigued with this methodology and its application on a multitude of new projects,” said Jeffrey M. Brown, The Stack’s developer and general contractor.

Jeffrey M. Brown, CEO of Brown Hill Development, and Kim Frank, co-developer and owner of real estate finance firm MCA, bring a combined fifty years of industry experience and have collaborated on various innovative development projects including the Porter House in New York’s Meatpacking District.