The project was commended for its unique approach to multifamily housing.

We are excited to announce that The Essex has been named a BSA/AIANY 2021 Housing Award winner! The project was recognized for its design approach which combines 195 residential apartments (50% of which are permanently affordable), a cinema, a new home for Essex Market, the largest urban farm in Manhattan, and a connection to an underground market concourse called The Market Line.

The façade of The Essex reinterprets the building fabric of the Lower East Side through modern materials and fabrication techniques: an asymmetrical, folded metal panel system reflects the sunlight in different ways and creates a varied pattern that was designed to capture light from multiple angles throughout the day and allow the folded bronze panels to glow.

Inside, residents are greeted with a wooden feature wall that undulates toward the elevator banks, imitating the movement of the building's façade. Units are designed to feel light and airy. "Floating corners" with 7-foot 6-inch tall windows create panoramic views of the skyline. Kitchens are designed to be extensions of the living space and are well appointed with Bertazzoni ranges, Bosch dishwashers, and quartz countertops.