For its second-to-last multifamily development in the United States, Australian developer and contractor Lendlease has built the largest geothermal residential project in New York City, expected to open its doors in October.
The Riverie, which has begun pre-leasing, is located in Brooklyn, New York’s Greenpoint neighborhood, directly on the East River waterfront. The property consists of two residential towers standing 34 and 20 stories tall, offering a total of 834 rental units — 30% of which are designated affordable — and 13,000 square feet of retail.
The property’s vertical closed-loop geothermal system is made up of over 320 boreholes underneath the site. Combined with its all-electric utility system, The Riverie is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions from heating and cooling by 53% compared to traditional residential buildings.
“The Riverie comes online at a moment when demand for thoughtfully designed, sustainable waterfront living in Brooklyn has never been stronger,” Layth Madi, senior vice president and director of development management and operations for Lendlease in New York, said in a news release. “With its scale, climate resilience and industry-leading geothermal system, The Riverie is … both future-proofed and deeply connected to Greenpoint’s vibrant character.”
The Riverie’s unit mix includes studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, along with penthouses and townhome apartments. Units feature open-concept floor plans, oversized windows, in-unit laundry and terraces and balconies or stoop entrances.
Over 130,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities include coworking spaces with conference rooms, a fitness center with outdoor access and a yoga studio, a rooftop heated pool, barbecue areas, sauna spaces, a music room, a podcast studio, a speakeasy-style lounge, a demonstration kitchen, a children's play area, a pet wash station, garage parking and bike storage. Charleston, South Carolina-based Greystar is the property’s manager.
At the ground level is Riverie Park, an 18,000-square-foot public plaza that incorporates an elevated ground plane and native plants to protect the East River’s edge. The park connects to the India Street ferry, which offers a five-minute ride into Manhattan.
In May 2024, Lendlease announced that it was exiting international development and construction within the next 18 months, but would honor its commitments to finish joint venture projects, of which The Riverie is one.
The company also recently completed The Habitat Apartments, a 260-unit development in Los Angeles. Expected to open in 2026, the property is part of a wider $316 million mixed-use project in the Culver City submarket, which will include retail space, a landscaped open area and a six-story office building.
