150 Fifth Avenue expanded many times, originally constructed as the Methodist Book Concern, the robust structure was built to support printing presses and a chapel, extending in 1899 and 1909. This resulted in a maze of substantial masonry bearing walls, lightwells, and setbacks which segmented the floors preventing them from their full potential.

To bring the building into line with modern tenant expectations and other available real estate, the design strategy consolidates vertical circulation and core elements while transferring bearing wall conditions to open up and unify the tenant space available across a typical floor. The building’s façade features a tripartite masonry scheme from a rusticated granite base, to a limestone and brick center, and a terracotta roof addition. Nestled into the terracotta portion, our addition was critical to the expansion of the building’s use as flexible space for modern office tenants providing sunlight and access to lush terraces for future tenants.

We worked to replicate the unique visual qualities of 20th-century terracotta while reaping the benefits of the durability and sustainable attributes inherited from the material, such as; generating the least CO2, a 1,000 year lifespan and 100% recyclable. The use of terracotta adds to the depth and visual appeal of the building, but also avoids predictable modern jewel box typology.

STUDIOS completed an analysis and determined the building is currently under-built approximately 37,000 zonable square feet. As a result, designed a 10,000‑square‑foot rooftop addition; a terrace at the 10th floor as a single‑tenant amenity; a terrace at the 12th floor as a building amenity; additional mechanical space on the 12th floor; and a new fire stair.