Empire State of Mind
Understated glam—there’s no better kind. That’s how we would describe actress Revell Carpenter. It’s also how we would characterize the building in which we photographed her, New York City’s iconic 111 West 57th Street. We spent the day with Revell as she arrived and danced about the ultra-lux skyscraper dressed in the latest fall fashion, jewelry and accessories. Revell is as sweet and lovely as she looks—although don’t let her easygoing demeanor fool you into believing she is anything but quick. This Deerfield and GW grad is fluent in Mandarin, and proficient in both Russian and Spanish. Revell is also a graduate of the New York Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and received her acting training in New York, Los Angeles and London. She’s earned Best Actress awards in multiple International Film Festivals, and has received recognition for both writing and directing. Oh, and did I mention she’s also a marathon runner and a former Junior USTA tennis player?
Quietly determined, Revell is a star in every sense of the word. You may recognize her from her leading roles on Disney’s Lifetime channel, or perhaps you saw her appear in HBO’s “Succession” or HBO’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls”. We are excited to share that ending 2024 and beginning in 2025, Revell will star in two new films! You can catch her playing the lead in a romcom to be released on Apple TV and Amazon, and she will also star in a murder mystery thriller with limited theatrical release, followed by streaming. Happily, Revell has no fear of heights, which was a welcome advantage when photographing her in Penthouse 76 of the ultra-luxurious, 1,428-foot-high residential tower at 111 West 57th Street.
Also known as Steinway Tower and situated along Billionaires’ Row on the north side of 57th Street,111 West 57 is not only the world’s skinniest skyscraper, but it is also the second-tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. The remarkable structure encompasses its original landmarked building, Steinway Hall, designed by Warren & Westmore and built for Steinway & Sons pianos in 1925, and a newer tower with a width-to-height ratio of about 1:24—making it the fourth-tallest building in the United States and the thinnest in the world. The stepped form and modern Art Deco notes of 111 West 57th Street reference iconic 20th-century New York City structures like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, while the facade of the tower consists of terracotta blocks that appear to change color and texture depending on the light variance and angle from which the building is viewed.
111 West 57th Street comprises 60 luxury condominiums: 14 in Steinway Hall and 46 in the private Tower Residences. Designed by SHoP Architects, with interior design by Studio Sofield, apartments in the 84-story building are available as full-floor or duplex homes with remarkable, 14-foot ceilings and signature spaces. At the ground level of 111 West 57th Street, a rusticated, private porte cochère leads to a 24-hour concierge and doormen. Among the building’s amenities are an 82’ lap pool with a spa and fitness center, a golf-simulator, an on-site Padel Court, a children’s playroom, a bi-level outdoor terrace with an accessible multi-purpose bar, a catering kitchen and private dining rooms.
Aside from the Tower Residences’ lofty ceilings, sparkling bathtubs and full-service amenities (not to mention a communal Steinway & Sons grand piano), what sets these luxury condominiums apart is a sense of intimacy despite the building’s record-setting height—coupled with unbelievably breathtaking views. Looking out of the window from 111 West 57th could be likened to a moment in high-fashion, or a piece of rare art—as the entirety of Central Park, New York City beyond it, and the distant skyline beyond that spills out, colors changing from buttery greens and pale blue to sparkling lavender and midnight hues with the passing day. And Central Park is only one view—from various apartments the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and even the Statue of Liberty can be seen in their entirety. A prominent and local regional landmark, 111 West 57th Street now too stands among the lofty New York City vista, bearing, as stated by its originator, SHoP Architects, “a special responsibility to contribute meaningfully and elegantly to the shared skyline”.