IN A CITY OF SUPERLATIVES, ONE SPARKLING CITADEL STANDS ABOVE THE REST: ENTER CENTRAL PARK TOWER, THE HIGHEST RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE ON THE MAP
BY AMANDA MCCOY
American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand once penned, “I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York’s skyline.”The Empire City is home to more than 7,000 high-rises, with roughly 130 of them cresting 600 feet or more. From romantic icons like the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings to gleaming glass-sided newcomers like the Edge in Hudson Yards, Manhattan is an undulating wave of grandeur, its water-locked position guaranteeing growth doesn’t flow outward, but up. In 2020, the skyline welcomed a new crown jewel, billed as the world’s tallest residential superstructure and the 15th highest building in the world. Welcome to Central Park Tower, a gravity-defying feat of luxury and innovation.
Like its moniker suggests, the 131-story citadel sits along Central Park on Billionaire’s Row, a drag named for the onslaught of record-crushing real estate prices. To achieve the logic-eluding height, developers Extell Development Company and Shanghai Municipal Investment Group tapped the world’s leading authority in supertall design, architect Adrian Smith (the mind behind the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building on the planet) and his firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. After a decade of planning, collaborating, and lofty conception, construction broke ground in 2014 and topped out in the fall of 2019.
The experience begins in the Lalique lobby on 57th Street, the fabled French glassmaker’s first New York City residential commission in over a century. A stunning tapestry of geometric shapes, the lobby is dressed in plush velvet couches, a marble reception desk, hand-selected Italian stone, and a custom chandelier composed of more than 2,000 pieces of crystal. There’s also a private vehicular entrance on 58th Street for those arriving via Bugatti or Rolls.
There are 179 residences, and since the tower boasts 1,550 vertical feet, most of the homes elevate far above the noise of the city – some even top the clouds. Floor-to-ceiling glass and soaring ceiling heights soak each unit in views of Central Park and the cityscape. Living and entertaining spaces were strategically placed in the corners of the home to take advantage of the sweeping panorama.
Award-winning firm and the designer-of-choice for the Four Seasons, Rottet Studio was tapped to lead the interiors, delicately toeing the line between neo-glamour and old-school Manhattan swank. “I’ve always been enthralled by the history of the great Art Deco apartment buildings in New York,” noted principal Lauren Rottet of her inspiration behind the project. I tried to create a truly contemporary reinterpretation of those grand, classic Deco buildings.” Restraint is a clear theme of the décor, as Rotten was intentional about not distracting from the breathtaking views. Soft, calming hues like sand, taupe, and ivory are the primary color choices, punched up with the occasional royal blue throw pillow, polished brass lighting fixture, or jewel-toned chair. Every detail, from the hardware in the bathrooms to the living room accent furniture, was custom designed for the space. The art was also painstakingly selected, picked from roster of established greats and trendy up-and-comers, in a variety of classic and contemporary styles.
Kitchens are offered in light and dark palettes, and feature bespoke Smallbone cabinetry and top-end, chef-grade Miele appliances. Bedrooms are also minimalist, outfitted with Rotten-designed king beds, custom nightstands and dressers, and sconces by Apparatus. After a long day, wash off the city in ultra-luxurious master bathrooms, finished with imported stone, Dornbracht fixtures, and decadent soaking tubs overlooking the city that never sleeps.
The tower’s pièce de résistance is the top-floor triplex penthouse, situated 1,416 feet above the ground and stretching 17,545 interior square feet with another 1,433 square feet in its outdoor terrace. This seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom mansion in the sky features soaring 27-foot ceilings for mouth-gaping vistas, plus a ballroom, two kitchens, library, observatory, gaming lounge, grand salon, private fitness studio, and dramatic windowed staircase that connects all three floors. At a $250,000,000 asking price, it’s the most expensive listing in the entirety of the United States, and can claim the title of the highest residence in the world.
Billed as an urban resort, the supertower is teeming with first-class concierge services and amenities, with more than 50,000 square feet of space dedicated to the Central Park Club, helmed by global lifestyle specialist Colin Cowie and his team of Michelin-starred chefs and club associates. Standouts span a garden-shrouded terrace and private park, 60-foot-long swimming pool, cabana deck, outdoor kitchen, and the Terrace Bar for poolside shareables and cocktails.
The 14th-floor Living Room is a dedicated reception and lounge area dripping in gotham-inspired glamour – an ode to Rotten’s Art Deco motivation. It features two seating areas – one formal and the other casual – plus a billiard’s table and dramatic screen room. There’s also a dedicated wellness sanctuary, boasting a double-height windowed sports court, indoor pool and spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, and a full-service beauty lounge. Owners can select from a vast range of personal wellness services, from private swimming lessons or weight training to restorative spa treatments with the city sparkling in the background.
Available units begin at $6,500,000.
Central Park Tower