A Bad Office Can (Potentially) Become a Good Apartment The challenges and complexities of cubicles out, bedrooms in.

Once designed for corporate office use, the 4 New York Plaza, an imposing tower built in 1969, is undergoing a transformation into residential spaces, reflective of a broader trend in Manhattan's Financial District. 

This shift responds to the surplus of office space and the shortage of residential areas in the center of many cities. Older office buildings, including the 4 New York Plaza, are being repurposed into modern residential complexes, catering to the demand for housing in the city center. The process involves significant structural modifications such as adding windows, vertical courts, and other amenities to accommodate the conversion. 

The regulatory flexibility provided by the city's zoning code allows office spaces to be transformed into equivalent living spaces on the same site, ensuring that the scale of the new residential buildings matches that of the former office structures. This trend is not only a means of addressing the housing shortage but also has wider-reaching benefits, such as revitalizing neighborhoods, reducing environmental impact, and fostering a more vibrant and diverse community.