Design-build renovations for Tribeca's cast-iron lofts and landmarked industrial conversions. One in-house team handles design and construction together, with architecture built into every decision from the start.
Tribeca holds some of the most distinctive residential architecture in Manhattan. The Triangle Below Canal Street runs from Canal Street down to Chambers and Vesey, bounded by the Hudson River to the west and Broadway to the east. Its blocks are lined with 19th-century cast-iron store-and-loft buildings alongside the masonry warehouses and industrial conversions that turned a wholesale food district into one of the city's most sought-after neighborhoods. Renovating here calls for a partner who understands the structure behind the character.
Gallery KBNY is a full-service design-build firm headquartered in NoMad, with nearly two decades of experience renovating homes across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our team works under one roof, carrying a project from first concept to final walkthrough, architects and interior designers seated beside our construction professionals throughout. We have completed a run of loft renovations in the neighborhood: a co-op loft gut at 335 Greenwich Street, a kitchen and bath renovation at 9 Murray Street, a kitchen renovation at the Sky Lofts building on 145 Hudson Street, and a penthouse renovation at 73 Worth Street. That track record is grounded in real NYC loft renovation expertise and a working knowledge of how Tribeca buildings actually behave. For more on the neighborhood, see our Tribeca neighborhood renovation guide.
Every home responds to its own building and the way you live in it. The original bones do the work they were built to do, and modern comfort fills in everything the industrial era left out.
.avif)
A Tribeca loft is defined by its structure long before its finishes. Cast-iron columns, timber or steel beams, exposed brick, and ceilings that most Manhattan apartments never approach all set the terms of the design. The work is to keep what makes the space singular while resolving the practical gaps that come with a former commercial building. Our design and construction teams collaborate from day one, so aesthetic intent and structural reality develop together. There is no handoff between firms, and no translation loss between what is drawn and what gets built, the same coordination that defines our design-build firm in Tribeca. For Tribeca lofts, that coordination shows up in a few specific ways:
Original plaster and brick are preserved, and timber beams are cleaned and sealed for a finished, lasting look. Cast-iron columns stay visible, worked directly into the plan. At 335 Greenwich Street, we reconfigured a two-bedroom into a functional three-bedroom with added baths, keeping the loft's architectural character intact.
In an open-plan loft, storage becomes architecture. Full-height cabinetry and concealed pantries sit alongside built-in seating that defines zones without walls, and every piece of millwork is detailed to sit comfortably against raw brick or a steel column.
A loft kitchen anchors the whole floor plate. We design chef-caliber spaces around integrated appliances and stone selected for movement, with islands scaled to the room they anchor. At the Sky Lofts renovation, we set full-height marble waterfall slabs without a single cut, coordinated through a crane delivery to clear the building's constraints.
Heated floors, book-matched stone, frameless glass, and recessed, integrated lighting turn a former utility corner into a retreat. At 9 Murray Street, one bath made a bold statement with a custom subway-green vanity while a second leaned classic with checkerboard floors and subway tile.
Lofts were historically drafty and poor at holding sound. We design layered lighting for a volume that reads very differently at 7 AM than at 10 PM, and build in acoustic isolation so an open plan with hard surfaces still lives quietly.
%20Gallery%20KBNY.avif)
Tribeca loft costs are shaped by the same variables as any Manhattan project, meaning scope, building age, material selections, and regulatory complexity. The neighborhood's cast-iron and post-and-beam building stock adds its own considerations, alongside landmark designations and Loft Law history that can move a budget upward when they are not planned for at the start.
From co-op alteration agreements to DOB filings and LPC review where a building sits in a Tribeca Historic District, we prepare and manage every submission end to end, structured to satisfy reviewing architects and boards on the first pass.
A loft kitchen anchors the whole floor plate. We design chef-caliber spaces with integrated appliances, stone selected for movement, and islands scaled to the room, from full renovations to complete reconfigurations.
%20Gallery%20KBNY.webp)
-min.webp)
Heated floors, book-matched stone, frameless glass, and recessed, integrated lighting, all while navigating the structural and plumbing limitations of a cast-iron or post-and-beam building.
Full-height cabinetry, concealed pantries, and built-in seating define zones without walls, detailed to sit comfortably against raw brick or a steel column.
%20Gallery%20KBNY.webp)
%20Gallery%20KBNY.webp)
Cast-iron and post-and-beam lofts rarely allow deep ceiling penetration, so mechanical routing has to be planned around the existing structure. We plan air handler placement and ductwork during design, before it becomes a mid-construction surprise.
Non-structural elements can often be reworked to open the living and dining areas while cast-iron columns and exposed brick stay fully intact, once our architecture team confirms what the structure allows.
Running mechanical and electrical systems, along with plumbing, through tight or restricted ceiling cavities takes engineering that respects the original frame. Non-invasive routing protects the structure and the look, and planning it into the estimate from the very start keeps the schedule and budget predictable.
Many lofts cannot accept deep duct runs, so air handler placement and dropped-ceiling zones become a design decision with a cost attached. A firm that plans this during design avoids the change orders that come from discovering it mid-construction.
Buildings converted from commercial or manufacturing use may carry Interim Multiple Dwelling status under Article 7-C. Legalization and Certificate of Occupancy considerations can affect what a renovation is permitted to change, and they need to be evaluated before design locks.
If your building sits in one of the four landmark renovations in NYC Tribeca Historic Districts, exterior work visible from the street, including cast-iron facade repair and window replacement, requires LPC review. Interior work is generally exempt, though some filings call for a Letter of No Effect. Budget soft costs for these filings and for consultant coordination.
Tribeca's narrow, sometimes cobblestoned streets and tight freight elevators shape how large stone slabs and millwork reach the apartment, on top of each building's own delivery windows. The Sky Lofts crane delivery is one example of the logistics a loft renovation has to price in.
Many Tribeca lofts are co-ops with rigorous alteration agreements, from contractor insurance minimums to on-site supervisor requirements. Expect soft costs for agreement compliance and architectural filings, plus time for board review.
.webp)
The backbone of Tribeca's residential stock. These 19th-century store-and-loft buildings, many Italianate and Romanesque Revival, offer generous floor plates and tall ceilings, with cast-iron detail throughout. Renovating them rewards reverence for the original architecture and familiarity with strict co-op boards. Our work at 335 Greenwich Street reconfigured a two-bedroom co-op loft into a three-bedroom home with added baths, using dropped ceilings in select areas to improve lighting and proportion while preserving character.
Some Tribeca lofts still carry the legacy of their commercial origins under the NYC apartment renovation laws governing the Loft Law. Interim Multiple Dwelling status brings legalization and Certificate of Occupancy considerations that a renovation has to respect. Our in-house team evaluates Article 7-C and IMD standing early, so the design protects legal occupancy and avoids delays at resale or final sign-off.
The neighborhood's upper floors and combined units offer volume that few Manhattan homes can match. At 73 Worth Street, we partnered with Todd Zwigard Architects on a penthouse loft, executing a full gut with a new kitchen and redesigned bathrooms, plus upgraded flooring and lighting throughout. When plans are already drawn, our construction management steps in to deliver them precisely.
Newer and recently converted buildings offer loft proportions with modern systems already in place. Even here, owners renovate to elevate finishes and reconfigure open layouts, introducing the custom design that turns a developer-grade unit into a personal home. Our design team layers in the warmth and texture that make a house feel like home, from custom HVAC solutions for older NYC buildings to bespoke millwork.
The traditional model has you hiring a design team and a separate general contractor, then closing the gap between them yourself. In Tribeca, cast-iron structure limits what can be moved and Loft Law and LPC add layers of review, all while oversized materials still have to reach an upper floor through a narrow street. Those gaps turn into risk. Our design-build model closes them:
Your design and construction teams collaborate from the first meeting, architecture included. Design decisions are vetted for constructability in real time, so a beautiful drawing never turns into an $80,000 surprise once the contractor sees it.
We prepare and submit alteration agreement documentation and file architectural plans with the Department of Buildings, managing LPC filings and Loft Law considerations along the way. You have a team navigating the agencies alongside you.
Because our architects and builders work together throughout design, every mechanical run and structural detail, down to the finishes, is checked for feasibility and code before it reaches your board. Your design is already built to what the building can support, long before construction starts.
You see your renovated loft in detailed 3D visualizations before a wall is touched, down to cabinet color and hardware, which matters most in a space where a single column placement or ceiling drop sets the tone for the whole floor. See how this compares to hiring separately in our guide to design-build vs. architect firms.
Terry | 91 Central Park West
February 2026
Client
From the start, we wanted a crew that could do full service, design and build. After looking at some other designs, we really liked what Gallery offered in the way of aesthetics. Then, during the entire process, the team was all over it. Issues always come up, but it is how these guys handled them that has me here writing a positive review.
...View moreJennifer | 1035 Fifth Avenue
March 2024
Client
Gallery is TERRIFIC. Avi was fantastic in every way, including providing a practical budget, laying out options, sticking to budget, finding creative solutions to every problem, and working closely with my building staff. Avi and his team get it done, take pride in their work, and are honest and professional.
...View moreSee below for a peak at our full portfolio of NYC loft renovations and a closer look at how Gallery KBNY transforms Tribeca's cast-iron lofts, blending industrial character with modern functionality.
%20Gallery%20KBNY.webp)
A full-scale Tribeca gut renovation that reimagined the layout, transforming a two-bedroom into a functional three-bedroom home with 1.5 added baths and reconfigured living areas. Dropped ceilings improved lighting and spatial proportion, and every detail balances modern refinement with preserved architectural character.
View the Full Co-Op Loft Renovation
A full kitchen renovation and two distinct bathrooms. One bath makes a bold statement with a custom subway-green vanity, while the second leans classic with checkerboard floors and subway tile. The kitchen is grounded in timeless white Shaker-style cabinetry and quartz surfaces, finished with matte black hardware for a clean, functional look.
View the Full Tribeca Renovation Before and After
A kitchen renovation in Tribeca's Sky Lofts building, modernized while honoring its dramatic scale and architectural features. High ceilings and structural columns, paired with precise lighting, demanded a high-end approach. A standout detail: full-height marble waterfall slabs installed without cutting, made possible by a coordinated crane delivery.
View the Full Tribeca Loft Renovation Before and After
A penthouse loft renovation completed in partnership with Todd Zwigard Architects. With the architectural plans already drawn, our team focused on construction execution for a uniquely detailed space, delivering a full gut with a new kitchen and redesigned bathrooms, plus upgraded flooring and lighting throughout.
View the Full Tribeca Renovation Before and AfterTribeca loft renovations typically range from $450 to $600 per square foot for full renovations and $600 to $950+ per square foot for gut renovations with luxury finishes in landmarked or cast-iron buildings. A 2,500 square foot loft gut renovation generally runs $1.5M to $2.4M+, depending on the extent of structural and mechanical work, plus custom millwork and material selections. Gallery's all-inclusive approach covers design, architecture, permitting, and construction in one transparent proposal, with no hidden line items later in the schedule.
If your building sits within one of the four Tribeca Historic Districts (Tribeca West, designated in 1991, and Tribeca East, North, and South, designated in 1992, with a South extension in 2002), any exterior work visible from the street requires LPC review. This includes cast-iron facade repair and storefront infill, along with window replacement. Interior renovations generally fall outside LPC approval, though certain filings may call for a Letter of No Effect. Gallery handles all LPC filings as part of our full-service design-build process.
The New York City Loft Law, Article 7-C of the Multiple Dwelling Law, governs former commercial and manufacturing buildings that were converted to residential use, a category well represented in Tribeca. Units with Interim Multiple Dwelling (IMD) status carry legalization and Certificate of Occupancy considerations that shape what a renovation can change. Gallery evaluates a building's Loft Law and IMD status at the outset so the design stays code-compliant and protects legal occupancy.
Cast-iron and post-and-beam lofts rarely allow deep ceiling penetration, so mechanical routing has to work around the existing structure. Gallery typically concentrates ductwork and air handlers in secondary zones, bathrooms and entry closets among them, where a lower ceiling goes unnoticed, then preserves full height across the primary living volume. This is settled during design, before board submission, so the mechanical strategy is fixed before construction begins.
Timeline depends on scope. A kitchen or bathroom renovation typically requires 8 to 12 weeks of active construction, while a full loft gut renovation of 2,000 to 4,000+ square feet runs 5 to 10 months. Add 3 to 5 months for design and board approvals, plus permitting, including any LPC or Loft Law filings, though Gallery runs these phases in parallel wherever possible.
This is one of Gallery's core strengths. We retain the features that give a Tribeca loft its identity, including cast-iron columns, timber beams, exposed brick, and oversized windows, while introducing chef-caliber kitchens, spa-level bathrooms, acoustic isolation, smart home systems, and concealed storage. Our in-house architects and designers develop one unified plan so the original structure and the modern program resolve together.
Whether you are reimagining a cast-iron co-op on Greenwich Street or bringing a Loft Law conversion up to code, penthouses included, Gallery KBNY brings the structural fluency and design sensitivity, paired with real neighborhood knowledge, that Tribeca demands.
View Our Full Portfolio
.png)
.png)
