Inside NYC's newest luxury office-to-residential building — with nearly 800 apartments, a cinema and a rooftop pool

May 6, 2026 - 03:04

New York City's post-pandemic skyline is shifting, and the latest example is Wrey, a massive office-to-residential conversion now taking shape at the corner of Broadway and Fulton Street. The project will bring nearly 800 new apartments to Lower Manhattan, transforming a former commercial tower into a full-fledged residential community.

Developers have gutted the existing office floors to make way for a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. But the conversion goes far beyond just stacking apartments. The building is designed to compete with purpose-built luxury rentals, featuring a private cinema, a sprawling fitness center, and a rooftop pool with sweeping views of the city skyline.

The push to convert empty offices into homes has gained momentum since COVID-19 emptied downtown towers. Wrey is one of the largest such projects to reach completion, signaling that developers are betting on a permanent shift in how New Yorkers live and work. The building's amenities are tailored for a hybrid workforce, with co-working lounges and private meeting rooms replacing the old corporate conference floors.

Residents are expected to move in later this year, adding a fresh wave of foot traffic to a neighborhood already bustling with transit hubs and historic landmarks. For city planners, the project serves as a test case for whether office conversions can help solve the dual crises of vacant commercial space and a housing shortage. If Wrey succeeds, it could pave the way for more towers to follow suit.