A sensitive community re-development project, 1664 Amsterdam Avenue is a six-story mixed-use building on a site between two existing buildings. This unique building combines three upper floors of apartments, a community facility on the 2nd floor, and a church (Iglesia de Dios) that occupies the basement, first and mezzanine floors.

The planning and construction required a tight timeline and precise coordination to facilitate the relocation of the church and residents from another site that was also undergoing re-development.

Marin Architects’ design addresses its placement between two existing buildings by incorporating an interior courtyard, allowing natural light to penetrate each of the apartments, as well as the community facility. The placement of balconies and windows allows for air circulation throughout the interior and exterior spaces.

The elongated C-shape provides necessary circulation to each floor, while placing all of the necessary mechanical facilities on the uppermost floors to allow for maximum floor space in each unit. Separate ground floor entrances on Amsterdam and Hamilton Avenues provide distinct circulation for private and community users. The church includes a seating and pulpit area, as well as internal access to the community facility.

The brick façade blends with the color palette of the existing buildings and provides a clean visual transition between the old and new facades.

The reinforced concrete structure and structural design for this building included careful coordination with the existing substructure and footings of the adjacent buildings to ensure stability within the narrow 25-foot wide lot.