European Union Ambassador’s Residence

New York, NY
6,000 SF
Completed 2010

The European Union hired us to renovate their brownstone townhouse on East 72nd Street. The nineteenth century building serves as the European Union Ambassador’s Residence. The scope of work included a new brownstone aggregate façade – the original brownstone had been covered in the 1950s by a cementuous stucco at the same time its front stoop was removed.

Also included in our scope of work was the recreation of a formal parlor level entrance which too had been removed in the 1950s. Additionally, we designed a new brownstone stoop, a one story addition on top of an existing rear yard addition, landscaping for the front and rear yards, a new roof, and a gut renovation of the interior.

We formed a team of structural, civil, and mechanical engineers and collaborated with them to design the roof and yard alterations and additions, install a completely new HVAC system, build retaining walls and provide adequate drainage in the rear yard. We worked closely with the EU’s Head of Administration and their security consultant. Our design had to create an elegant and comfortable space for the formal and informal functions of the Residence while being ever mindful of the cost being funded by European Union tax payers.

We commissioned a new property survey and happily discovered that the width of the rear yard was greater than the extant fencing enclosed. This enabled us to design a far more commodious outdoor rear yard space. We researched the property and confirmed the existence of a prior stoop and obtained approval to rebuild it, beyond our property line, per DOT revocable consent.

Collaborators: Mottola Rini Engineers, Langan Engineers, Anastos Engineers, Landmarks Conservancy, Infinity Construction