A neglected office building with sweeping views of the George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River, which sat empty for almost a decade, has been reborn as the award-winning FIAT House. The two-tower building, first built in the 1980s, was once considered an eyesore, but now houses 300 luxury residences. Located at 2100 N. Central Road in Fort Lee, the FIAT House received the 2025 AIA NJ Design Award Merit Award.
HAAK ARCHITECTS, based in Englewood Cliffs, shepherded the adaptive reuse project from the initial concept through its completion. The original building was home to two towers connected by a low-rise podium, plus a parking garage. Hundreds of thousands of commuters pass the building daily, and the goal was to build a modern landmark that would stand as a symbol of Fort Lee’s ongoing urban renewal agenda. The central strategy was to embrace green building principles, preserving the existing structure and avoiding major demolition, construction waste, and carbon emissions.
To achieve these goals, the overall design of the FIAT House flipped structural limitations into assets throughout the building. The building’s outer shell was replaced with a curtain wall system, maximizing natural light and panoramic views. Office buildings are deep and feature a dark core. To tackle this challenge, bedrooms and living spaces were positioned on the exterior of the building, again to optimize light and ventilation. The central core of the building is dedicated to private storage, shared amenities, and personal offices.
Another challenge overcome during the reconstruction process was creating an outdoor space that offered residents an escape from urban noise. When the existing structure was connected to the new tower and low-rise podium, the architects were left with a trapezoidal courtyard. To maximize this peaceful garden space, loft-like, duplex apartments were arranged around the courtyard.
“This project is meaningful work that breathes new life into a space that had long been a blight on the city. We will continue to uncover the hidden potential of buildings and pursue creative design that simultaneously addresses environmental sustainability and economic viability,” commented Ian Jeong, AIA, Principal, HAAK ARCHITECTS.
