Once-controversial Soho Properties chief Sharif El-Gamal just announced that he has tapped a minimalist Italian designer, Piero Lissoni, to design the apartment interiors and amenity spaces at his new condo building, set to rise at 45 Park Place between Church and West Broadway. The building, which is going to be 39 stories tall (or 665 feet) and contain 46 condos, will be designed by Michel Abboud of SOMA Architects. Construction is expected to begin in 2015, with estimated completion in 2017.
Early renderings showed a many-headed glass tower, but the final design has yet to be unveiled. Next door, at 51 Park Placeonce the planned site of El-Gamal's controversial "Ground Zero mosque"there will be an Islamic cultural center, museum, and sanctuary. Starchitect Jean Nouvel is on board for that adjacent project; the two are being treated as one entity even though they are next to each other. Nouvel is also planning a public plaza and green space at No. 51.
· Many-Headed Glass Condo Tower to Rise at 45 Park Place [Curbed]
· Park51 Developer to Build Condos Next to Islam Museum3 [Curbed]
· 45 Park Place coverage [Curbed]