New York City firm Morris Adjmi Architects has revealed designs for the Warehouse, a boutique commercial property developed by Elijah Equities in Chelsea, Manhattan. Combining adaptive reuse and new construction, the seven-floor complex will accommodate 100,000 square feet of retail and open-plan office space and feature two rooftop terraces.

Adjmi’s design envisions a monolithic steel-framed structure that will cantilever over the original 1914 building, which is currently being used as a parking garage and gallery space. “I want to connect these two beautiful structures without simply fusing them together” says Adjmi, whose upbringing in New Orleans fueled an appreciation for preserving historic architecture. “The new steel-and-glass element will create the sense that it floats above the original building.”

The new structure will feature open-plan office space, tall ceilings, and concrete floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows and easy access to rooftop terraces will provide sweeping views of the adjacent High Line.

The original building, a former apparel-manufacturing warehouse, will be gut-renovated. Elijah Equities principal James Haddad sought to preserve a token of his family’s history—his grandfather’s menswear clothing company was a former tenant. “We opted to stay true to the Warehouse’s heritage, keeping the bones of the property while adding a modern expansion that complements the original brick-and-mortar base,” says Haddad. Renovation plans for the base of the building include eliminating columns, installing larger windows, and introducing a dual-core system to house stairwells, elevators, and restrooms.

The Warehouse is located at 520 West 20th Street in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. Construction will begin in spring 2017 and is slated for completion in early 2019.

By RYAN WADDOUPS