Behind the Build: Fifth Avenue Residence Overlooking Central Park

Project details from Leor Wolf, VVA Senior Associate Project Manager

When a longtime corporate client turned to VVA for help with their private residence, the assignment was both an honor and a natural next step. Having already experienced the value of VVA’s hands-on project management in the corporate world, they knew the same expertise would ensure a smooth, efficient, and rewarding process for their Fifth Avenue home overlooking Central Park.

This 3,800 SF residence underwent a complete interior renovation, including the kitchen, coffee bar, wet bar, library, living room, terrace, primary suite, guest accommodations, and staff quarters. The timeline stretched across 22 months—10 dedicated to design, Department of Buildings approvals, and bidding, followed by 12 months of construction.

Navigating constraints with precision

The project unfolded in an occupied Fifth Avenue building, where construction was tightly governed by rules on access, noise, and work hours. Workdays were limited, and additional days came at a cost to the client. To overcome this challenge, VVA pushed to release long-lead items before construction began, carefully tracked approved workdays for reconciliation, and guided the general contractor in condensing trades to work in parallel.

What began as constraints became opportunities for innovation. The result: the project was delivered on time and under budget.

A first for the building, with a lasting impact

Adding to the complexity, the client’s selected general contractor was not on the building’s pre-approved list. Thanks to VVA’s emphasis on transparency, communication, and proactive problem-solving, the building staff not only embraced the contractor but ultimately added them to the approved list for future projects.

What made this project most memorable was the spirit of gratitude and collaboration. The client went out of the way to personally thank the construction team, even providing weekly lunches as a token of appreciation. That culture of respect and recognition was contagious, with the general contractor ultimately referring to the assembled group—client, design team, trades, and VVA alike—as the “dream team.”

For VVA’s Luxury Homes division, this project is emblematic of what we strive for: bringing the same level of rigor, detail, and advocacy that defines our corporate work into deeply personal spaces where families live, relax, and gather.