540 West 21 Street via Desimone

Here's a first look of sorts at the new private gallery and luxury residential tower slated to rise at 540 West 21st Street in Chelsea, just half a block from the High Line.

The five-story gallery is being designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano and has been initiated by world-renowned art dealer David Zwirner. The gallery will also be linked to a new 20-story condo tower by Casco Development — this bit will play host to 34 luxury units, according to permits.

While Piano has completed numerous museum projects, this will be the architect's first commercial gallery. In 2018, Piano told the New York Times he would aim to approach the design the same way he did the Whitney Museum; that is to create “a visual psychological connection between the building and the street.” 

Once the building wraps, Zwirner plans to make the new space his NYC flagship. The dealer's current group of galleries include spaces at 519, 525, and 533 West 19th Street and 537 West 20th Street. The Piano-designed space will be his third in Chelsea, fourth in New York, and seventh worldwide. (All existing Zwirner galleries have been designed by Anabelle Seldorf)

Previously, a fall 2020 opening date was tagged, however, CityRealty shares that construction is currently stalled at the foundation level. Casco secured a loan for the project in 2018, according to The Real Deal. The total project cost is reported to be $50 million.