Press

“In competitive real estate markets, an exceptional athletic court, pool or gym can be the deciding factor for a prospective tenant,” says Paul Whalen, partner at Robert AM Stern Architects (RAMSA). The practice designed everything including the court at The Henry, the first residential building in New York City to feature a private indoor pickleball court. The Henry is halfway sold and is expected to be ready for move in by early next year. “Active lifestyle amenities are no longer add-ons; they’re an essential,” says Whalen. At 20ft x 44ft, the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court, a pickleball court has a smaller footprint than a tennis court. But building one indoors, in a private residence, in Manhattan, is not straightforward, says Danielle Naftali, executive vice-president of marketing, sales and design at Naftali Group, the developer behind The Henry in the city’s Upper West Side. “We had to meet the technical demands of the sport while upholding the architectural integrity,” she says. An acoustical consultant and engineer were brought in to design panels to absorb sound on the walls and ceiling, which is 18ft high, so as not to disturb the residents.