393 West End Ave

“The lobby echoes our overall concept of building on the provenance of this pre-war gem while also creating a modern intervention with an advanced contemporary attitude,” Ruddy adds. “Normally, prewar lobbies were adorned in dark wood paneling. We took the idea of paneling but wanted it to be a lot fresher and forward and so, opted for an oyster-toned lacquer finish. When one enters, they don’t feel like they’ve walked into their grandmother’s apartment building.” This “calling card” space is adorned with a nickel leaf ceiling and a Bianco Spino and Grigio Collemandina mosaic floor; an element that is emphatically prewar. In contrast, another contemporary touchpoint is the concierge desk, sculpted from one piece of Black Belvedere. The lobby is helmed by 24/7 door attendants and porters.

Revised classic six and seven residences

“We thought about what it is that people really love in these older buildings,” Ruddy reflects. “There’s a certain grace and elegance to the proportioning of rooms; the idea that you walk into an apartment and there’s a foyer. It’s not like you open the door and wham bam you’re right in the kitchen or living room.” Plank and chevron-patterned European white oak flooring and pristine white beamed ceilings carry across meandering one-to-four-bedroom units which are imbued with a balanced palette of both light and dark earth tone detailing, as well as a few iridescent touches.

Kitchens feature custom walnut cabinets with brushed bronze and fluted glass accents. Naica Quartzite countertops and backsplashes anchor Miele appliances: paneled refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers; stainless steel gas ranges and speed ovens. Stained bronze Watermark taps are joined by InSinkErator Evolution garbage disposals. Bathrooms are finished in honed Pacific White marble and Corduroy Deco glazed ceramic tiles. Vanities are rendered in white lacquer and Calacatta marble with polished nickel and textile front accents. Semi-recessed mirrored medicine cabinets have inset sconces. Mosaic floors, like those found in the lobby, are heated.

While one bedrooms with 792 to 995 square feet of space sell for $1.2 million to $ 1.8 million, 1,200 square foot two bedrooms fetch between $2.1 million and $2.9 million. Some higher-level western exposure residences have unobstructed views of The Hudson River. Three bedrooms, which incorporate unique wet bar alcoves, average out at $4 million. Four-bedroom residences with triple exposures and oversized walk-in closets top out at just above $6 million. “What we realized is that there are people who only want to live on the Upper West Side and love it’s diversity, great schools, community atmosphere and top-notch cuisine,” Ruddy adds. “A lot of them want to live in a prewar building but also want modern conveniences like integrated home technology.” 393 West End Avenue residences are equipped with high-performance, multi-zoned LG VRF cooling systems, Nest smart thermostats and energy-efficient LED lights. All have in-unit Miele or Whirlpool front-load washers and heat pump dryers.

A full suite of amenities catering to a new crop of New York tech professionals

A late 2022 Forbes article delves into why the Upper West Side has rapidly become a haven for tech professionals looking to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown and the rapidly establishing Hudson Square tech district: new Google, Apple and Amazon urban campuses as well as the offices of a slew of quickly expanding startups. The main reason these affluent buyers are looking in the neighborhood, as is often the case in New York, is a reliable subway link. The 1, 2 and 3 lines serve the 72nd Street Station, just a few blocks south of 393 West End Avenue. Heading up sales in the building, Brown Harris Stevens agent Louise Phillips Forbes notes that 22 of her 2022 closings in the building were with tech sector buyers. Answering their needs is 4,000 square feet of amenity space, also designed by CetraRuddy, which includes a lounge with gaming station, private nooks for remote work and a rentable Club Room for private dinners or parties. There’s also a Great Room and the Cottage Playroom with an immersive porch and backyard installation. 393 West End Avenue’s well-manicured courtyard is dubbed the Secret Garden. Its basement has a sizeable bike room, pet spa and an additional laundry room.