Construction has been completed for Ray Harlem, a new 21-story mixed-use residential development at 2035 Fifth Avenue in New York City. The building was designed by Frida Escobedo Studio with Handel Architects and developed by Ray and LMXD. It offers 222 mixed-income rental units and 27,000 square feet (2,508 square meters) of cultural space that will house the National Black Theatre (NBT), located between East 125th and 126th Streets.
Featuring a textured red brick façade with a grid of recessed black-framed windows, the residential entry sits at the northwest corner, while the NBT entrance is marked by a prominent canopy. Amenities include outdoor terraces, a coworking lounge, a library curated by Phaidon Press, communal kitchen, yoga studio, and bike storage.
The new home for the National Black Theatre will include two auditoriums, rehearsal and set-building spaces, classrooms, and administrative offices. Interior build-out begins this fall, with the theater’s opening slated for 2027. Ray Harlem is the first project to leverage New York City’s Visual and Performing Arts bonus, designed to promote mixed-income housing while supporting local cultural institutions. Ground-floor and second-level commercial space is currently available for lease through RIPCO.
The site offers easy access to transit, located near the 2 and 3 trains at Lenox Avenue and the 4/5/6 lines on Lexington Avenue at 125th Street.
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