From the 83rd Floor of Billionaire’s Row, a Party With a View

High above the chaos and commotion of the city, the residential tower at 111 W. 57th St. builds upon the historic Steinway Hall that was first built there in 1925. Standing 1,000 feet in the air and recently completed by ShoP Architects, the tower’s 83rd-story penthouse is the pinnacle of serene escape—or, as it happens, an unmatched spot to celebrate against a breathtaking backdrop of Central Park views. That’s what SHoP founding principal Gregg Pasquarelli and his partner and collaborator, Woods Bagot principal Krista Ninivaggi, found on a recent evening when they took over the residence in celebration of Pasquarelli’s birthday. Fellow architects, designers, and industry friends gathered for the occasion, toasting cocktails by Toby Cecchini and mingling before cutting into a cake made in the image of the building itself. Notables in attendance included: James Sanders, David Rockwell, Kavi and David Moltz, Matt Stevenson, James Corner, Jeff McLeod, Hind Wildman, Christopher Sharples, Coren Sharples, William Sharples, Paola Antonelli, Paul Goldberger, Kim Ng, and more. Photo credit: Jiraurd Key/BFA