78 Irving Place
Seven residences on 'Block Beautiful.' 1920 pre-war conversion steps from Gramercy Park. PKSB Architects. The smallest building in this collection.
| Building Type | landmark conversion |
| Era | Interwar / Art Deco (1920–1940) |
| Governance | Condominium |
| Board Approval | Not Required |
| Year | 1920 (converted 2015) |
| Architect | Unknown (1920 pre-war) (conversion by PKSB Architects (Sherida Paulsen)) |
| Interior Designer | Varies by unit |
| Landmark | Yes |
| Units | 7 |
| Price Range | $3.0M - $12.0M |
| Design Register | Pre-War Classical |
| Flooring | Original herringbone parquet (American white oak — 1920 residential construction); some units retain original hardwood in good condition. PKSB conversion combined pairs of rental apartments, which sometimes relocated room positions. Renovation standard: refinished original parquet or replaced with wide-plank white oak. |
| Kitchen | Christopher Peacock or custom painted cabinetry (renovation standard, Signature and Bespoke tier). PKSB's 2015 conversion created new mechanical infrastructure but left finishes as owner choices — no building-standard kitchen exists. |
| Countertop | Renovation standard: Calacatta marble, Statuario marble, or honed quartzite. |
| Backsplash | Renovation standard: marble to match countertop. |
| Appliances | Sub-Zero + Wolf + Miele (renovation standard). PKSB conversion created new plumbing and electrical infrastructure — appliance selection is entirely individual. |
| Appliance Suite | Renovation standard: Sub-Zero refrigeration, Wolf range with vented hood, Miele dishwashers, wine refrigerator. |
| Bath Fixtures | Renovation standard: Waterworks, Lefroy Brooks, or Dornbracht. PKSB conversion created new bathrooms within the combined apartment configurations — original 1920 bathroom layouts do not apply. |
| Bath Stone | Renovation standard: Calacatta or Statuario marble slab, custom double vanity, radiant heated floors. PKSB conversion specified new mechanical infrastructure — bathroom finishes are entirely individual owner choices. |
| Ceilings | 10–12 ft |
| Windows | Original pre-war windows; Irving Place streetscape views; Gramercy Park proximity |
| Smart Home | Not specified |
| Collections | 7 condominiums converted from 14 rental units; PKSB Architects conversion (new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; enlarged elevator); four-step-up entrance with elaborate surround over a moat on 19th Street |
| Lobby | 7-story pre-war building at the southeast corner of Irving Place and 19th Street — the 'Block Beautiful' of the Gramercy Park area. PKSB Architects (Sherida Paulsen) designed the conversion. Acquired for $68.2M in 2014. Steps from Gramercy Park. One of New York's most architecturally significant residential streets. |
78 Irving Place is the smallest building in this collection: seven residences in a 1920 pre-war building on one of New York's most architecturally treasured streets. PKSB Architects' conversion combined pairs of original rental apartments to create seven larger condominiums with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Located on 'Block Beautiful' — the stretch of Irving Place between 17th and 20th Streets known for its intact historic rowhouses and apartment buildings — the building benefits from one of the most peaceful residential environments in Manhattan, steps from Gramercy Park without the building offering park key access.
Because the conversion created unique configurations within a pre-war structure, each unit has specific architectural character. Interior specifications vary entirely by unit, and there is no developer baseline to reference. PKSB's new infrastructure provides clean systems; the aesthetic expression of each residence is entirely the owner's to define.
- 7 units means renovation is entirely individual — no building standard to reference or work within
- Pre-war architectural elements (moldings, proportions, original floor tile) should be documented and assessed for preservation
- Block Beautiful street context creates unusual residential quietude — interior design can be less strident than in more prominent buildings
- Gramercy Park proximity (but no key access) means clients value neighborhood character — residential quality over display
- Each unit is large (created from combined apartments) — unexpected proportions and configurations are common
- PKSB conversion created new mechanical infrastructure — smart home and AV systems can be cleanly integrated