470 Columbus Avenue, 5

Charlotte of the Upper West Side, a Passive House Institute Certified Building, is a new boutique development said to be NYC’s most sustainable condominium (Forbes, Luxe, Associated Press). Its seven full-floor residences are a sanctuary of wellness and sustainability in the heart of a beloved and historic Upper West Side neighborhood.

Winner of several prestigious design awards, including the 2023 AIA Design Award by the American Institute of Architects New York State, the 2024 Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Award by the Chicago Athenaeum, and most recently, the 2024 SARA National Design Award by The Society of American Registered Architects.

Charlotte of the Upper West Side artfully combines the highest-level craftsmanship and finest materials with innovative wellness features and top-tier systems in every category. Covered by the Wall Street Journal and Architectural Digest for their high-performance and sustainable design, these homes include superior insulation, air-tight construction, quadruple-layered museum-quality windows with acoustical lamination, and an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system to create a super energy-efficient and nearly silent space with unmatched quality. The multi-million-dollar ventilation system continuously infuses the space with fresh, filtered, and UV-treated air, eliminating toxins and allergens and exchanging the home’s entire volume of air between 13 and 28 times per day. The building has 9 separate ERV ventilation systems and 40 UV systems, providing each residence with its own independent ventilation system so your air is your own and of the highest quality 24 hours a day. All incoming air is moderated to reduce humidity in the summer and increase humidity in the winter.

Richly layered and crafted, the building’s Columbus Avenue facade draws inspiration from its neighbors in the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District. BKSK Architects reinterpreted the artistry of 19th and early 20th-century masonry landmarks with surfaces of velvety redbrick and fins of Italian-made terra-cotta.

BKSK designed the baguette-shaped terra-cotta fins to reduce incoming heat in the summer while allowing the winter sun’s rays to warm the interiors. The artisans of Italian manufacturer Sannini spent more than two years fine-tuning the distinctive iron-spot finish on the finely crafted fins and other unique, custom profiles.

A handsomely illuminated canopy welcomes you home to Charlotte of the Upper West Side. As you enter the lobby, you can see up-close the exquisite craftsmanship and distinctive finish of the terra cotta exteriors.