130 William is the first high-rise residential tower designed by Adjaye Associates in the United States. Located in Manhattan, it stands at 800 feet with 66 stories. The project reflects an approach to creating a residential vertical community that responds to the dense urban environment.
130 William Technical Information
- Architects1-12: Adjaye Associates
- Location: New York, New York, USA
- Height: 800 feet, 244 meters
- Area: 41,480 m2 | 447,000 Sq. Ft.
- Completion Year: 2023
- Photographs: © Ivane Katamashvili, © James Wang, © Dror Baldinger
Adjaye Associates’ design celebrates the building’s lower Manhattan context with a hand-cast concrete façade evocative of the masonry craftsmanship of the neighborhood’s historic high-rises. The bespoke, tinted concrete rough textures are offset by smooth bronze detailing throughout the building. Rhythmic, large-scale arched windows, inspired by the mercantile structures that once populated the area, establish the building’s bold silhouette and invite natural light deep into the interior.
– Adjaye Associates Architects
130 William Photographs
130 William Design Philosophy and Contextual Integration
The design combines living spaces, public amenities, and urban integration, aiming to contribute to the urban fabric of Lower Manhattan. This structure exemplifies Adjaye Associates’ focus on contextual design and innovative material use.
The design incorporates a hand-cast concrete façade, referencing the masonry craftsmanship common in the historic buildings of Lower Manhattan. Large-scale arched windows echo mercantile architecture, enhancing the integration with the surrounding neighborhood. Bronze detailing offsets the concrete façade, providing subtle material contrasts.
A public plaza is included at ground level, creating a transitional space between the urban streetscape and the residential interiors. The textured walls in this plaza continue the theme of historic craftsmanship while offering a defined boundary between public and private realms.
Spatial Organization and Features
The tower includes a variety of residences, ranging from one- to four-bedroom layouts, with upper-level units featuring double-height living spaces and outdoor loggias. These loggias frame views of the city, connecting interior and exterior spaces effectively.
Two floors of amenities are designed to support residential needs, including wellness facilities, entertainment areas, and communal spaces. A rooftop observatory deck offers additional access to views across Manhattan.
At ground level, retail spaces and a landscaped plaza provide public accessibility while integrating with the urban environment. These elements allow the tower to function as part of the city while maintaining residential privacy.
Implications for Urban High-Rise Design
130 William reflects Adjaye Associates’ architectural approach, which emphasizes material specificity, contextual integration, and the relationship between public and private spaces. The design engages with the urban environment through its material palette and spatial organization, while providing spaces that respond to contemporary residential needs.
This project demonstrates how high-rise residential architecture can incorporate public and private realms effectively, contributing to the broader discourse on urban design and high-density living environments.
130 William Plans
130 William Image Gallery
About Adjaye Associates
Sir David Adjaye, founder of Adjaye Associates, is a globally celebrated architect known for his culturally resonant and contextually sensitive designs. Born in Tanzania and raised in the United Kingdom, Adjaye has a rich multicultural background that deeply informs his work, which spans civic, cultural, and residential projects across continents. His firm, founded in 2000 with studios in Accra, London, and New York, has delivered iconic projects such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., and the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. Known for blending material innovation with a profound engagement with history and place, Adjaye’s work often creates new typologies that enhance community connection.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Design Architect: Adjaye Associates
- Architect of Record: Hill West Architects
- Client: Lightstone
- Civil Engineer: AKRF Engineering PC
- Structural Engineer: McNamara Salvia
- Mechanical / Plumbing Engineer: Ventrop EGC
- Electrical Engineer: AKRF Engineering PC
- Façade Consultant: Gilsanz Murray Steficek LLP
- Acoustical Design: Longman Lindsey
- Lighting Consultant: Brian Orter Lighting Design (BOLD)
- Landscape Architect: William Weintraub Diaz
- Construction Management: Gilbane
