Illustrious office tower-topped luxury condo in prime Midtown Manhattan
When the 53-story Random House Tower — otherwise known as Park Imperial Condominium — went up on a trapezoidal block in prime Midtown Manhattan during the early aughts, critics noted that it looked like three stacked books with distinctly granite clad “ends.” This somewhat facile assessment, indeed made given the structure's primary function as the global headquarters of blue-chip publisher Penguin Random House, was quickly debunked by the Skidmore, Owings and Merrill project lead responsible for its design. They stated that it was actually meant to resemble three sliding crystals. Such are the machinations of a corporate architect trying to make a “bold and artistic” mark on the city’s ever-evolving skyline. However, a sense of site-responsive and contextual sensitivity seems to have also been part of the process. The decidedly set-back and staggered colossus takes its cues from these early 20th-century structural strategies, implemented to better accommodate the even flow of light and air. The tower’s height and girth ultimately match that of other nearby buildings, which cannot be said of the jarring supertalls that line 57th Street just a block north. Related Companies developed Park Imperial Condominium with a $300 million investment and the ambition of erecting “a true mixed-use project.” Today, its 107 oversized and views-drenched residences — starting on the 48th floor — remain popular among celebrities, CEOs and foreign investors seeking privacy while still being in the middle of the action. The tower’s reflective glass facade helps them achieve that balance.
High-profile residents maintaining pieds-a-terre and a scandalous seizure
Since its especially anticipated completion in 2003, Park Imperial Condominium has been a second home to high-profile figures like Equinox leader Harvey Spevak and ex-Mongolian prime minister Sukhbaatar Batbold, who, according to a March 2024 BBC article, bought a $3.9 million corner unit with, allegedly, embezzled funds. Federal prosecutors seized the property that spring. Given the particularly high price of residences in the building, celebrities like “Law & Order” star Christopher Meloni have had a tough time selling them for asking price. According to a 2015 article from real estate blog 6sqft, his 3,000-square-foot three bedroom went on the market for $12 million in 2012 but ultimately sold for $8.9 million three years later. When purchasing the property in 2005, he told the Wall Street Journal, “I will never forget that moment as long as I live.?It felt like that clichéd moment—you’ve finally made it. It was really nice to have a sanctuary, but still feel connected to the life of the city.”
Sprawling condos with sleek finishes, 10-foot ceilings and largely unobstructed views
Outfitted by heavyweight hospitality design firms Ismael Leyva Architects and Tihany Design, Park Imperial Condominium’s amenity spaces and residences are imbued with a sleek yet sophisticated suite of finishes, materials and a color palette indicative of New York’s unceasing affinity for the restrained yet still slightly ornamental deco style. Though units have undergone varying degrees of gut renovation by previous owners, many still feature the baseline sponsor finishes of ebony-stained mahogany herringbone-pattern floors and architectural elements like stately columns. All feature 10-foot-high ceilings and large, almost floor-to-ceiling, windows. Harkening back to the scale and grandeur of prewar residences, several units feature expansive foyers rather than entrances that lead directly into living rooms, which has become the standard in newer, more compact condos. Residences are also, by and large, wired with surround sound and individualized climate controls. Kitchens — some with windows — are outfitted with top-line appliances. Custom-fitted closets are the norm throughout the building as are steam showers in guest bathrooms and in-unit washers/dryers.
A two-bedroom unit on the market for $3.3 million in fall 2024 features seamless wood built-ins for additional storage. The 1,477-square-foot corner residence has western and northern exposures, looking directly out onto the Hudson River and Central Park, respectively. Selling for $3.8 million at the same time, another apartment contains three bedrooms and a massive primary suite. A giant full-floor, 7,963 square-foot residence with 15 rooms, six en suite bedrooms, a sauna and sweeping views of Times Square, sold for $14.5 million in spring 2023.
The level of amenities one expects from an ultra-luxury residence and all Midtown has to offer
Full-time white-glove attendants and daytime concierges helm Park Imperial Condominium’s grand lobby while hall porters monitor each residential level. The 47th-floor Imperial Club contains a fully equipped fitness center, residents’ lounge, a separate business center and a landscaped terrace overlooking the park. The in-building garage is administered by management and offers residents discounted monthly rates. This facility also serves as a covert entrance for some of Park Imperial Condominium’s more recognizable residents. The surrounding area is suffused with prestigious restaurants and leading cultural institutions such as Lincoln Center — home to the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet — the Museum of Modern Art and Carnegie Hall. Broadway theaters aren’t far, either. Columbus Circle operates as a central transit hub that’s served by A, B, C, and D and 1 subway lines. It also hosts a premium shopping mall with a Whole Foods. Closer to Park Imperial Condominium, the 57 Street/ 7th Avenue station with N, Q, R, and W service. The main attraction here, however, is Central Park. The 843-acre activity-rich green space incorporates large picnic lawns, historical monuments, bucolic lakes, secluded woodlands, a 6-mile running and cycling loop road and even a half-decent zoo.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Moderate Crime
Crime Score®
5/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
88/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
745 Plaza
8 min walk
Picnic Area
Dante Park
9 min walk
Picnic Area
Damrosch Park
11 min walk
Picnic Area
Events
Richard Tucker Park
11 min walk
Picnic Area
Events
Ramon Aponte Park
11 min walk
Playground
Waterpark
Grand Army Plaza
12 min walk
Channel Gardens
14 min walk
Picnic Area
Nature Center
Hell's Kitchen Park
14 min walk
Basketball
Tennis
Trails
McCaffrey Playground
15 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Waterpark
Schools
Source:
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Disclaimer: Please note that this building may not be in these schools' attendance zones.
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