217-219 West Broadway

Taking advantage of the unobstructed daylight and commanding view of Finn Square, the design emphasizes glass while respecting the architecturally sensitive Tribeca West Historic District. Echoing the proportions of nearby buildings, openings were given deep 12-inch returns and were paneled in stone so the windows appear to be carved from solid blocks of Bulgarian limestone, while a simple metal rail suspends a floating glass panel 4 inches from the façade. With its thoughtful details and study of scale and proportion, the building refrains from mimicking its historic neighbors, choosing instead to abstract their essential features into a modern translation.