The Sofia

Manhattan, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Occupying the corner of Columbus Avenue and 61st Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side, The Sofia is a 27-story Art Deco skyscraper completed in 1930 by the architectural firm Jardine, Hill & Murdock. Originally built as Kent Automatic Garage—a 1,000-space facility with pioneering automated parking systems including electric trolleys and large vehicular elevators—the building features a striking facade of orange brick interspersed with black brick banding and terracotta detailing. Following foreclosure and subsequent ownership changes, the Sofia Brothers Warehousing Company converted it into a warehouse in 1944. A 1983 residential conversion by Aaron Green and Growth Realty Companies transformed the structure into a mixed-use condominium with 94 apartments in the upper 17 stories and offices below, creating a hybrid space that reflects its evolution from automotive innovation to residential living. The building is designated a New York City landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Movement

Art Deco architecture

Built: 1930
Type: skyscraper, warehouse
Heritage: New York City Landmark, National Register of Historic Places listed place
Height: 86.87 m
Place: Manhattan, United States

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Location

40.77056, -73.98333