A ten-story landmark in the heart of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, the former Franklin Trust building at 166 Montague Street has undergone a conversion from an office property into upscale residential condominiums. The goal of the $10 million project was to retain the distinctive character
of the Romanesque-style structure, built in 1891 and described as a “gem” in the AIA Guide to New York City. George L. Morse, who designed the 50,000 SF building, used rusticated granite for the base, Indiana limestone for the two-story arches, light brick and terra cotta for the body, and capped the building with a dormered, mansard roof of Spanish tile. The architects have kept the architecturally significant elements intact and used them as inspiration for the entire renovation. The project encompasses a gut renovation,
the creation of a rooftop terrace, the addition of a sky-lit health club, new west-facing balconies and windows, and a one-story glass addition on Clinton Street to house a new entrance for the offices of United Management.