Superior Ink

Superior Ink
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Mixed use
Location	400 West 12th Street Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates	40.737288°N 74.009467°W / 40.737288; -74.009467
Completed	2009
Height
Roof	190 feet (58 m)
Technical details
Floor count	17
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Robert A.M. Stern Architects

Superior Ink is a residential complex located in Manhattan, composed of a seventeen-story condominium building, and nine town houses. Construction was completed in 2009, and the complex was developed by The Related Companies. Robert A.M. Stern Architects designed the buildings.

History and construction

The complex was built by The Related Companies, a New York-based developer. The set of buildings are named for, and on the site of, the former Superior Ink Factory, which was built in 1919.^[1][2] The demolition of the Superior Ink Factory was controversial, and opposed by preservationists and residents of the community.^[3][4] The original architect chosen by Related, Charles Gwathmey, was eventually replaced with Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Gwathmey previously designed the Astor Place Tower for Related, a building that received negative reviews and poor sales.^[5][6][7]

The building was one of Related's first to be built with a distributed antenna system to boost cell phone reception for its tenants.^[8] The building was flooded and damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

Design

The development is split between a condominium apartment building and seven town houses. The apartment building reflects the design of factories located on the original Superior Ink factory grounds. Arthur Lublow, writing for The New York Times, criticized the town houses, complaining that they were not similar to other town houses in Greenwich Village, but rather resembled those on the Upper East Side given their heavy ornamentation.^[9]

Celebrity residents

Notable individuals who have lived in the building include Anne M. Mulcahy and Hilary Swank.^[10][11]

References

1. Gregor, Alison (May 15, 2009). "West 12th Street Trades Factories for Condominiums". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
2. Arak, Joey (January 11, 2006). "Looks Like Superior Ink is Getting Erased". Curbed. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
3. Pogrebin, Robin (December 1, 2008). "Preservation and Development, Engaged in a Delicate Dance". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
4. Board of Standards & Appeals (February 15, 2015). "Superior Ink factory site to get fifteen-story development". CityLand. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
5. Bareau, Penelope (December 17, 2014). "Everyone's a Preservationist". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
6. Sicha, Choire (August 4, 2009). "Charles Gwathmey, 1938–2009". The Awl. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
7. Ourousoff, Nicolai (September 26, 2008). "New York City, Tear Down These Walls". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
8. Higgins, Michelle (October 9, 2015). "The Cellphone Imperative: If I Can't Text, I'm Moving". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
9. Lublow, Arthur (October 15, 2010). "The Traditionalist". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
10. Barbanel, Josh (November 13, 2009). "They Have to Live Somewhere". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
11. Doge, Annie (July 20, 2015). "Rent Hilary Swank's Designer-Decorated West Village Pad for $20,000". 6sqft. Retrieved August 7, 2016.