Lessard Design

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1 Water Street

White Plains, NY

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The redevelopment of 1 Water Street introduces a thoughtfully redesigned mixed-use residential tower directly across from the White Plains Metro-North station. The 1.3-acre site will be transformed into an 18-story building that balances increased density with enhanced open space and improved pedestrian connectivity to the train station. The new design features a distinctive U-shaped configuration that reduces perceived massing while creating a lower podium plaza deck along Water Street. Ground-floor retail has been expanded to approximately 4,000 square feet, activating the street frontage and strengthening the connection between downtown and the transit hub. The project will deliver 380 multifamily residences in a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Six affordable residences will be included on-site, with additional contributions supporting the city’s broader affordable housing goals. Residents and visitors will benefit from 394 parking spaces and dual access points from Water Street and Ferris Avenue. A public-facing park adjacent to the main entrance will provide active open space and seating areas, contributing to a more vibrant and walkable streetscape. As Boone of Lessard Design explains, the U-shaped building creates more visual openness and establishes a plaza deck that engages directly with Water Street. The development also incorporates high-performance building systems and is exploring geothermal heat pump technology to enhance long-term energy efficiency. This project reflects a commitment to transit-oriented development, sustainable design, and a dynamic public realm in the heart of White Plains.

 

Project Details

Size

1.3 ACRE SITE

Location

White Plains, NY

SERVICES

HIGH RISE MULTIFAMILY MIXED-USE

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Key participants

Lessard Design team’s talent and dedication to their clients and business make you an excellent choice for any commercial or residential project. As a real estate developer in the Washington DC area, we have worked with many design firms. Lessard Design has consistently designed creative, efficient, and architecturally attractive buildings. Our projects have been on time, and on budget.
Mark W. GreggThe Penrose Group
LDI has been great to work with and have demonstrated creativity, responsiveness, design acumen, an ethic of teamwork, and follow-through throughout the entitlement, design and execution process of our projects. From start to finish, their experience and depth deliver the quality, cost sensitivity and schedule efficiency that result in value to the stakeholder. Jurisdictions are impressed. Lenders comfortable. Contractors supported. Investors confident. Everyone wins with LDI.
Rick RowlandWoodfield Development
Collaborating with Lessard Design brings out the best in residential projects. They are creative, technical, and prompt, which allows me to make informed design decisions at every stage of the development cycle. Not only are they attentive to detail from the start, but they also balance aesthetics and functionality in a way that makes a material difference to both the bottom line and, ultimately, the resident experience.
Jesse tepedinoVice President - Development - Mill Creek Residential
I’ve had the pleasure to work with Chris Boone and Luz Del Mar Rosado of Lessard Design over the past couple of years. Chris and Luz have worked on several of our projects, and they’ve consistently been reliable, responsive, and great collaborators from start to finish. Chris and Luz are the kind of architects you can count on to stay engaged throughout the process. They communicate clearly, respond quickly, and always keep the broader project goals in mind. They do a great job balancing creative design with practical considerations which makes them a real asset on any development team. I’ve really appreciated their teamwork and the professionalism they bring to each project, and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again.
Michael SommerChief Development Officer - KUSHNER
As an innovative investor, developer and place-maker with a national platform, RXR is committed to working with design firms that embrace a customer and community-centered approach to building properties, services and products that create enduring value for all stakeholders. The team at Lessard Design is a true testament of that! Whether it’s a luxury condominium project such as The Ritz-Carlton Residences, North Hills or a best-in-class multifamily project such as Atlantic Station, Stamford - Lessard Design team’s expertise in residential design, attention to detail, and overall attitude in the creative process certainly did not go unnoticed. We appreciate the Lessard Design team’s dedication, vision, and commitment in achieving our goals.
Joseph Graziose, Sr.RXR Development Services
We have had the pleasure of working with Lessard Design, Inc. for more than 15 years. We have worked with the firm on well over a dozen multifamily and mixed use projects and the reason we always go back to them is because they are very responsive to our requirements. We are a very hands on and exacting development and construction firm and it takes a special type of design professional that can listen to its client, work collaboratively and provide the kind of architectural designs, plans, materials and results that Lessard Design has provided to us over a sustained period of time.
Bruce Berg & Kathleen HennessyCappelli Organization
For more than thirty years I have trusted Lessard Design with large scale development projects in the north-east region and in the recent years on several of our waterfront developments along the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan. They are a versatile hardworking team with assertive and innovative solutions. Beyond designing great looking buildings, their design approach has proven to deliver successful rentable properties. Their professional quality is one of many reasons of our long history together and we look forward to collaborating with them on more opportunities ahead.
Marshall TycherRoseland-Mack Cali; Veris; Canoe Brook
I have worked with Lessard Design for over a decade on multiple developments with consistent outstanding results, every time we present them with our vision and goals, they transform them into something great. Lessard’s multi-region presence provides valuable insight on new trends and solutions, they are creative, technical, and yet flexible when changes are necessary, their teams always deliver, always on time and with great quality.
Joseph M. Forgione JMF Properties
I have worked with Lessard Design for a generation developing numerous Apartment Communities comprising thousands of Apartment Homes. I can say with confidence and without exaggeration, Lessard Design one of the most experienced, professional and creative multifamily architects in the world. As we all know, this is only achieved by having great people working within a well functioning organization. I have developed a close working relationship with many of Lessard’s professionals and I continue to be impressed by their expertise and the organization as a whole Lessard is a “Gold Standard” in the industry.
Samuel B. FullerFULLER DEVELOPMENT, LLC
Lessard Design partnered with Toll Brothers on the creation of a series of five single-family model homes, known as the Executive Series. The Executive Series models have been successfully integrated into the many Toll Brothers communities over the years. We value these designs that Lessard Design created, and they have been popular with buyers over the years in many different markets.
Christina Lemley, AIATOLL BROTHERS
Lessard Design has consistently delivered innovative, functional, and market-driven floorplans that have become the foundation of several of our subdivisions. These designs not only maximize livability and efficiency but also enhance the overall value and appeal of the neighborhoods in which they are built. What sets them apart is their ability to balance creativity with practicality. They listen closely to both developer and buyer needs, producing designs that are cost-effective to build while also highly desirable to homeowners. The consistency and quality of their work across multiple projects have made them a trusted partner in our developments. We would highly recommend Lessard Design to anyone seeking a skilled and reliable architectural team with a strong track record in residential design.
David C. DeMarcoVice President, Land Acquisitions - MidAtlantic Pulte Group
Kushner has been working with Lessard on several multifamily projects in New Jersey over the past few years and has thoroughly enjoyed the partnership with Lessard. From innovative concept planning to creative designs, Lessard brings wealth of design and planning expertise to the process. We work with Lessard on many projects in the early planning and due diligence stages where it is crucial to maximize density and select the right product type to maximize efficiency and value. Lessard’s team is professional and works expeditiously on our projects turning deliverables on tight deadlines. We look forward to many more successful projects with Lessard. Thank you to Luz, Chris, Maurice, Ernesto, Val, and many other amazing Lessard employees for their hard work and dedication towards our projects!
Hams Tripathi Senior Vice President - Development and Construction - KUSHNER
I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Lessard Design team on two projects so far and look forward to continuing our strong partnership on many more. Their designs are both elegant and highly efficient — a combination that’s essential in multifamily development. The best compliment I can offer is that the Lessard team handled several major design changes with professionalism, positivity, and a truly collaborative spirit.
Jesse Kehoe ACRE | Director, Development
Over the past 20-plus years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Lessard Design, Inc. on almost 20 different projects, specifically with Chris Lessard and his team of principals, notably Ulises Monte De Oca, Luz Del Mar Rosado, and Chris Boone. In each project, the Lessard leadership group brings thoughtful and practical solutions to the challenges we face as developers, which then translate into best-in-class design. Lessard has always approached my projects as if they were their own to build so they provide meaningful insight not just to design, but also to efficiency, operations, cost, and brand presence. Their execution is fast and comprehensive which is critical and much appreciated.
Andrew MarshallFormer President/COO Roseland Residential Trust
I am pleased to offer this recommendation for Luz Del Mar Rosado, Architect at Lessard Design, Inc., whom I had the opportunity to work with on the design of a large-scale multifamily development consisting of more than 250 units and 450,000 square feet. Ms. Rosado led the architectural effort with confidence and precision, coordinating effectively with consultants, ownership, and construction stakeholders. I would also like to recognize the strength of her supporting team, including Ruben Olmeda-Santana and Teresa Bermudez, who contributed meaningfully to the success of the project. I would not hesitate to work with Luz Del Mar Rosado and Lessard Design again, and I recommend without reservation to any developer, owner, or organization seeking an architect capable of delivering thoughtful, efficient, and well-executed multifamily design.
Adam MohammedPresident of Commercial Construction | Nord Development Group