Upper East Side Mansion Renovation

Recipient of the Friends of the Upper East Side 2024 Rehabilitation Award

Recipient of the SARA Awards American Traditional Award 2025

Project Type: Historic Mansion Renovation and Addition

Location: Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, NYC

Size: 18,000 Sq Ft

Scope: Gut renovation, historic restoration, penthouse addition, cellar amenitites

Fifth Avenue Historic Mansion Renovation

Entry Sequence

A newly defined entry sequence establishes a clear architectural procession into the home, transitioning from the street into a series of carefully scaled spaces that culminate in the restored Rotunda. The sequence reintroduces hierarchy and clarity, reinforcing the ceremonial nature of arrival within the historic structure.

Restoration and the Historic Core

At the heart of the project is the preservation and restoration of the Rotunda stair hall and Codman’s Adam Room. Historic plasterwork was documented through 3D scanning, with missing elements recreated using advanced fabrication techniques and refined by hand. Original materials were carefully conserved while adapting the spaces for contemporary use.

On the Rotunda...

"This is architecture at its most fluid," says Robert A.M. Stern.

But even better is the way "daylight is softly filtered through windows."

- Architectural Digest, November 1989

"Insiders's Guide to New York's Special Places:

Prominent Residents Select Fifteen Incomparable Sites"

Contemporary Additions and Upper Floors

Above the historic levels, the design transitions to a more contemporary architectural language. Interventions include a light-filled kitchen, reconfigured living spaces, and a new open-to-the-sky rotunda inspired by the Pantheon, introducing natural light deep into the plan while maintaining a dialogue with the building’s historic geometry. The program extends beyond the original envelope with the addition of a penthouse level and rooftop amenities, including a basketball court and landscaped outdoor spaces. Below grade, the cellar was fully developed to include a movie theater, wine cellar, and additional recreational spaces.

Construction Phase Images

During construction, the historic mansion was comprehensively re-engineered and rebuilt to accommodate contemporary residential living while preserving significant architectural elements throughout the house. The existing cellar was excavated to create expanded below-grade program space, while much of the structure was selectively reframed with new steel-framed floor construction and concrete slabs to support updated loading conditions, modern building systems, and reconfigured interior layouts. A new steel-framed penthouse level was added above, carefully integrated within the landmarked structure, along with a new CMU elevator shaft and elevator installation, new steel and wood stair construction, and the complete replacement and coordination of all major building infrastructure systems. These included new HVAC and humidification systems, fire suppression sprinklers, advanced low-voltage lighting controls, integrated security systems, and entirely new plumbing and electrical distribution throughout the residence. Additional work included the construction of a new steel-framed rotunda dome with skylights, new masonry fireplaces, custom exterior doors and windows imported from Italy, and extensive custom millwork fabricated specifically for the project. The result was a highly coordinated reconstruction balancing landmark restoration, structural intervention, advanced building performance, and contemporary craftsmanship.

The result is a residence that frames both the city and Central Park,

balancing historic continuity with contemporary living.

Zivkovic Connolly Architects specialize in the design and renovation of historic townhouses and mansions across New York City, including the Upper East Side, West Village, and beyond. Explore additional townhouse projects to learn more.

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