No matter what the rest of the world looks like, interest in real estate in New York City remains one of the few constants in life. In 2025, the market remained resilient, with long-anticipated projects hitting major milestones, from the sales launch at the Flatiron Building to the reopening of the Waldorf Astoria. Downtown Manhattan dominated this year, with several buildings in the running for record-breaking sales, including the potential first nine-figure deal below 14th Street at 80 Clarkson Street. While the skyline is always evolving, the mark of Robert A.M. Stern, who died this year at 86, is ever-present, with two limestone-clad towers on this year’s list that serve as tributes to classic New York.
6sqft has narrowed our picks down to 14 of the most notable residential projects of the year. Which do you think deserves to be crowned the 2025 Building of the Year? Polls for our 11th annual competition will remain open through 5 p.m. on Monday, December 29. A winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 30. Happy voting!
Learn more about all of the finalists here:
Soon, you’ll be able to live in one of the world’s most famous buildings. After over 120 years as a commercial building, the Flatiron Building is currently undergoing a conversion to become 38 condos. This year, sales kicked off for the exclusive homes, and we got a look at the unique layouts (sprawling great rooms, arched windows, exposed steel beams) and prices (starting at $11 million).
The Brodsky Organization and the Sorgente Group, along with the architects at SLCE, are leading the transformation of the 22-story landmark, which involves replacing more than 1,000 windows, restoring thousands of terra-cotta fixtures, and repairing the six-foot-tall cornice, as 6sqft reported.
William Sofield’s Studio Sofield has designed the homes, which feature white oak parquet flooring and dramatic arched windows, marble-clad kitchen worktops, and luxurious amenity spaces with panoramic city skyline views.
Amenities will include a swimming pool, spa, and cold plunge, bike storage, a lobby, a package room, a lounge and a game room, a kitchenette and bar, and a fitness center.
Several units have entered contract already, including a $10.95 million three-bedroom and a $19.5 million four-bedroom. There’s a $48 million five-bedroom on the 20th floor with a great room measuring nearly 77 feet long. We’ll be keeping an eye out for the penthouse, which, according to the offering plan, measures 4,600 square feet and has a 3,200-square-foot wraparound terrace.
Named for the center of the spice trade in India, the Malabar is a new luxury tower on the rise in Midtown East. Designed by ODA, the condominium at 126 East 57th Street features 28 stories of cascading cast-in-place concrete tiers, a “playfully pixelated totem of apartments,” as CityRealty described, allowing for daylight, views, and access to outdoor space across the building. Sales quietly launched this year, with initial pricing from $1.48 million for a studio.
Developed by Anand G. Mahindra’s MRR Development, the Malabar takes up a full city block from 56th to 57th Street with 145 residences. Homes feature warm natural wood and stone, custom Italian white oak cabinetry, and dark marble and gold fixtures in powder rooms. As 6sqft previously reported, 100 of the 145 residences will have some form of private outdoor space.
Malabar has two entrances and amenity spaces on several levels, including landscaped terraces, rooftop gardens, an indoor pool, and a fitness center.
Currently, apartments are priced from $1.48 million for a studio to $5.76 million for a three-bedroom.
The prolific architect Robert A.M. Stern passed away this year, but his impact on the New York City skyline continues. Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) is behind a new Lenox Hill condo at 255 East 77th Street, a limestone-clad tower that will rise 500 feet above 2nd Avenue.
Developed by Naftali Group, 255 East 77th Street has 62 residences, ranging from two- to seven-bedrooms, including six full-floor penthouses. The apartments, also designed by RAMSA, feature high ceilings, white oak flooring, and eat-in kitchens.
Indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, are spread out across the 15th and 16th floors. Residents can enjoy a 75-foot swimming pool overlooking the skyline, a fitness center, a yoga room, a spa, a cinema, a sports simulator, a music room with a recording studio, and a library. Even sweeter, the Portland ice cream brand Salt & Straw will open on the ground floor in 2027.
Sales launched last year, and the building will wrap up construction next year. Current availabilities start at $7.4 million for a five-bedroom.
After making its debut on our Building of the Year last year, One Domino Square had an impressive 2025. Located on the southern end of Williamsburg’s 11-acre Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment, One Domino Square includes a 39-story tower with 160 condos and a 55-story rental with 400 units, the latter of which is the tallest building in the neighborhood.
In December, the building reached 100 residences sold, more units than any other Brooklyn property in 2025. Plus, a penthouse at One Domino Square sold for $7,450,000 this year, the priciest sponsor sale ever in Williamsburg.
Developed by Two Trees Management and designed by Annabelle Selldorf, the development features a “pearl-like” facade and residences with soaring ceiling heights and tilt-and-turn windows that maximize views, spanning from the Statue of Liberty to Midtown. A seven-story podium that connects the two towers offers 45,000 square feet of amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, a fitness center, multiple lounges, an open-air solarium, a co-working space, and several terraces.
Residents also have easy access to the one-acre public park, Domino Square, which opened in front of the development last year. During the winter, the waterfront park becomes an ice skating rink.
Current availabilities start at $1,950,000 for a one-bedroom.
It was an exciting year for the Waldorf Astoria. After being closed since 2017 for a major conversion and restoration project, the Art Deco icon welcomed its first residents in February and reopened the hotel this past summer. Led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the project transformed the 1,400-room hotel into 375 luxury condos and 375 hotel rooms.
Designed by Jean-Louis Denoit, the residences, which offer 125 unique layouts ranging from studios to four bedrooms and penthouses, occupy floors 19 to 52. The building offers residents the option to purchase fully furnished, turnkey apartments, curated by B&B Italia. The apartments balance old and new, inspired by European and American aesthetics, and flaunt custom cabinetry, Gaggneau appliances, and handcrafted, natural materials.
The Waldorf Astoria Residences feature over 50,000 square feet of amenities, in addition to the services provided by the hotel. Also designed by Denoit, the amenities include an 82-foot swimming pool overlooking Park Avenue, a private fitness center with spa rooms and wellness lounges, and a host of entertainment amenities, including the Winter Garden, the Starlight Lounge and terrace, and a library curated by the White House Historical Association. The Empire Club takes up the entire 19th floor, offering discreet private spaces, meeting rooms, and co-working lounges.
Current availabilities start at $1,875,000 for a studio and go up to $16,875,000 for a four-bedroom home.
On the border of Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, the condo at 144 Vanderbilt adds a pop of pink to a classic Brooklyn block. Developed by Tankhouse and designed by SO-IL, the building features a precast concrete facade with scalloped surfaces and various heights and setbacks. The tower, which rises four stories on Vanderbilt and eight stories on Myrtle, launched sales last year and residents started moving in during the summer.
As of October, 15 of 26 residences have entered contract or closed. According to the developer, sales at 144 Vanderbilt account for six of the top 10 condo sales in the history of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.
All 26 condos, including a selection of penthouses and townhomes, have private outdoor space and oversized windows; a majority of homes boast at least three exposures. The units, ranging from two- to four-bedroom units, feature white oak plank flooring, state-of-the-art kitchens with fully-integrated appliances.
Amenities include three landscaped gardens, a coworking and residents’ lounge, a game room, a children’s playroom, and a fitness center. Other perks include bike storage, private storage, and on-site parking
Availabilities start at $1,975,000 for a two-bedroom and $3,495,000 for a three-bedroom.
Bergen is the first condo building designed by Taller Frida Escobedo, the Mexico-based architecture firm also designing the new wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Developed by Avdoo & Partners Development, the block-long project stretches between 3rd and 4th Avenue in Boerum Hill, just south of the Barclays Center. The angled facade has handmade blocks that vary in size and degrees of opacity to maximize natural sunlight from east to west.
Bergen measures over 200,000 square feet and includes 105 residences, with three collections: residences, townhouses, and penthouses. Designed by Workstead, the interiors feature natural and earthy materials, like white oak, vanilla marble, and brushed nickel. Most homes have private outdoor space.
Two residential wings are connected at the center by the “Glass House,” which acts as an entry point from both Dean and Bergen Streets and holds the amenity spaces. The wellness suite features meditation and treatment rooms, a tea room, spas, and a steam room; the fitness suite has studios and state-of-the-art equipment; the creative suite includes specially curated spaces for crafting and sculpting; the entertainment suite has a movie theater, recording rooms, and a snack room.
There are also 12,000 square feet of outdoor amenities, including the residents-only “Dean Park” and two rooftop parks.
Residences at Bergen currently start at $895,000 for a studio and go up to $6,500,000 for a five-bedroom.
A first-timer on our list, but no stranger to making headlines, 80 Clarkson is one of the most anticipated new developments rising on the West Village waterfront. Developed by Zeckendorf Development and Atlas Capital Group, 80 Clarkson consists of two luxury towers and 113 apartments, which began quietly selling off-market this past spring.
Designed by COOKFOX and SLCE, 80 Clarkson has an estimated sellout exceeding $2 billion. Its performance this year is impressive. This week, a $129 million deal was signed for multiple units at the building, which could be a new record for downtown Manhattan, as well as the first nine-figure deal below 14th Street. Other sky-high asks at the building include an $80 million duplex penthouse and a full-floor residence for $75 million.
According to CityRealty, 80 Clarkson’s architecture “embraces New York City’s classic high-rise vocabulary and incorporates a biohphilic theme,” with green roofs, planted terraces, and private outdoor spaces. Located across from Google’s new Hudson Square headquarters, the project includes a 37-story tower and a 45-story tower and 37,000 square feet of retail.
Amenities include a covered porte-cochère motor court, an attended doorman and concierge, fitness center, an indoor parking garage, a pool and spa, multiple lounges and entertainment rooms, children’s play areas, and extensive landscaped outdoor terraces and roof gardens.
Another project from the firm of the late Robert A.M. Stern makes the list this year. Sixteen Fifth Avenue is a boutique condo developed by Madison Realty that sits in the heart of Greenwich Village, just a block north of Washington Square Park. Wrapped in a tapestry of warm brick, the 18-story building on lower Fifth Avenue features a base of limestone, with Juliet balconies and recessed windows throughout.
The new tower replaced two five-story apartment buildings dating to the 1840s, which preservationists fought to protect. The Landmarks Preservation Commission was split on their decision, but ultimately voted to approve the demolition of the buildings, finding they did not contribute to the historic district.
The building has just 14 residences total, including 12 full-floor homes. Each home measures over 3,700 square feet and offers flexible three or four-bedroom layouts. There are two penthouses at the top, a duplex penthouse spanning 6,800 square feet and a triplex penthouse at more than 8,300 square feet.
Inspired by the historic townhomes of Greenwich Village, the residences at Sixteen Fifth Avenue feature separate kitchen and dining rooms, with primary suites in a distinct wing for ultimate privacy. Each full-floor home has a powder room, three en-suite bathrooms, and a fourth bath that can also become an en-suite.
Amenities include a residents’ lounge with a catering kitchen, a fitness center curated by Wright Fit, a golf simulator, and a tranquility lounge.
Current availabilities start at $11,750,000 for a four-bedroom. There’s also a $45 million penthouse that measures over 6,800 square feet.
The tallest mixed-use tower on Fifth Avenue hit a major milestone this year, making it a contender on our annual list for the second year in a row. Developed by Rabina, 520 Fifth Avenue officially commenced closings in December, after selling over 95 percent of its inventory in less than a year. The 1,000-foot-tall Midtown tower offers 100 residences, Class A office space, and a new members-only club, Moss, which opened last month.
Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), 520 Fifth Avenue topped out at 88 stories last fall, making it the tallest condo tower on 5th Avenue and the second-tallest structure after the Empire State Building. The building features a series of tiered setbacks with glazed terracotta arches framing 10-foot by 10-foot glass. The tower has a slenderness ratio of 1:12, making it one of the skinniest buildings in the city, according to CityRealty.
The homes are found on the top 40 floors and range from one- to four-bedroom units. With interiors by Vicky Charles of Charles & Co., apartments have soaring ceiling heights, high-end kitchens, custom marble baths, and oversized windows with amazing views, including a close-up of the Empire State Building.
There are offices on the lower levels and an 88th-floor amenity suite, with a library and glass-walled solarium. Perhaps the most unique offering is Moss, the new private members-only club located under the office floors. Moss provides five floors of amenities, from fitness studios and thermal pools to a library with a bar.
Just two units at 520 Fifth Ave are currently available: a $5,950,000 three-bedroom and a $11,250,000 penthouse.
Joining the surge of ultra-luxury buildings in the West Village, 140 Jane Street is currently under construction across from the Hudson River. Developed by Aurora Capital and designed by BKSK Architects and Leroy Street Studio, 140 Jane Street rises 11 stories and has 14 apartments.
Located on a cobblestone street with river views, the building, which has since sold 13 of 14 units since launching sales last summer, recently sold a penthouse for $87.5 million. Three units have gone into contract for more than $40 million.
“With unique conservatories, private balconies, or terraces in nearly all residences, 140 Jane Street provides an enticing blend of indoor and outdoor living,” Leroy Street Studio writes on their project page.
Amenities include an automated parking garage, a pool, a gym, a sauna, a porte-cochère, and a private park.
The one remaining apartment is a three-bedroom listed for $13,950,000.
Also making its first appearance on our list is The Village West, a charming 14-story red brick condo at 525 6th Avenue. Developed by Izaki Group and designed by BKSK Architects, the building’s architecture pays a “romantic homage” to its historic surroundings, with a facade of red brick, terra cotta detailing, arched windows, curved corners, and pops of green brick. The Village West launched sales for its 68 apartments this September, with construction nearing completion.
Ranging from one- to four-bedrooms, apartments feature unique floor plans that maximize light and views. Kitchens come equipped with custom cabinets and countertops, integrated Gaggenau appliances, and wine coolers. Open living and dining rooms have wide plank oak flooring and curved bay windows. In the bedrooms, near floor-to-ceiling windows bring in lots of sunlight.
Residents have access to 10,000 square feet of amenities across four floors. There’s a multi-level courtyard and rooftop terrace, a gym with studio space and a spa, a co-working space, a children’s playroom, a dog wash, and more.
Homes at The Village West are currently priced from $2,150,000 for a one-bedroom.
No stranger to our competition, 111 West 57th Street has been featured about half a dozen times since we launched our Building of the Year contest. Since the second-tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere makes headlines every year, reaching new sky-high records and becoming one of the most recognizable buildings in New York, it remains a solid contender.
After a slow start, Sotheby’s International took over sales at the Billionaires’ Row supertall last year and repriced some of the units. Now, 111 West 57th Street will be one of the best-selling buildings of the year by total dollar amount. The building is roughly 90 percent sold, with just five units remaining, including a $110 million penthouse that hit the market in April.
Developed by JDS Development, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners, and designed by SHoP Architects, 111 West 57th Street incorporates the 1925 Steinway Hall, home to piano company Steinway & Sons, as part of its entrance and amenity space. The slender skyscraper has 46 apartments in the tower portion and 14 apartments in the Beaux-Arts building, known as the Landmark Residences.
In April, the “quadplex” penthouse, which is a combination of Penthouse 80 and Penthouse 82, hit the market for $110 million, the city’s priciest publicly listed property. The apartment measures over 11,400 square feet and has over 600 square feet of outdoor terraces.
Amenities include a private porte-cochère, concierge service, and access to Club 111 and Sports Club, which has an 82-foot lap pool, a sauna, a double-height fitness center, a private club, a catering kitchen, and much more.
In addition to the quadplex penthouse, remaining units include a $18,250,000 three-bedroom and a $49,000,000 four-bedroom with design and furnishings created in partnership between The Met, Eichholtz, and IMG.
2025 was a big year for Brooklyn Tower, the tallest building in the borough at 93 stories. After Silverstein Properties took control last year, the supertall in Downtown Brooklyn relaunched sales in June, along with a new marketing team and a new address. With Corcoran Sunshine now at the helm, the condos at 85 Fleet Street (formerly 9 Dekalb Avenue) returned to the market, priced from $965,000 for a studio.
Designed by SHoP Architects, Brooklyn Tower rises from the landmarked Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn, which will eventually have retail space. The building features a hexagonal composition, cascading setbacks, and soaring columns, topped by a neo-Deco crown.
The 150 condos start on the 53rd floor, maximizing views. AD100 firm Gachot Studios collaborated with SHoP on the interiors, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows, European white oak floors, mahogany millwork, and high-end finishes throughout.
Upon completion, amenities at Brooklyn Tower will take up 100,000 square feet and include Brooklyn’s largest Life Time location. Additional perks include private sky lounges and terraces on the 66th and 85th floors.
This month, the building debuted the penthouse, the highest apartment in Brooklyn. Asking $16,750,000, Penthouse 92 takes up the entire 92nd floor, offering 360-degree, never-before-seen views about 1,000 feet above Brooklyn. Remaining apartments start at $965,000 for a 574-square-foot studio.
