Renovating a New York City brownstone is not the same as renovating an apartment. From Park Slope to Harlem, Bed-Stuy to the West Village, Multi-Construction Co. has been working inside brownstones since 1989 — managing the structural realities, vertical service constraints, and Landmarks requirements that define this building type. Licensed, full-service, and one accountable team from planning through completion.
"It is more than a passion project. It is more than a creative vision realized. It is Multi."
Most renovation scope lists are written for the contractor’s convenience — not the building’s reality. Here is what brownstone work actually requires, and why each element matters.
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Load paths, party walls, and masonry conditions are documented before scope is set. Structural changes are planned around what the building can support — not what looks good on a drawing.
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Narrow floor plates, original stair positions, and vertical circulation constraints shape every layout decision. We plan for how the building actually moves — not how a wider building would..
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Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical runs are mapped across all floors before walls are opened. Routing and access points are resolved in planning to protect original fabric and avoid floor-by-floor surprises.
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Not everything original should be replaced — and not everything original can stay. Plaster, timber framing, original tile, and period millwork are each assessed for condition, compatibility, and preservation value before finishes are specified.
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Where historic district designation applies, exterior scope is documented and submitted in alignment with Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements. This is managed as part of the project — not handed off to the owner.
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Joint placement, edge control, and transitions are planned before installation begins to ensure precise, clean execution on-site.
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Electrical layouts and fixture placement are coordinated as an architectural system — not treated as a decorative decision made at the end of a project.
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Materials are selected for compatibility with older substrates and long-term performance within a building that moves, settles, and breathes differently than new construction.
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Level changes between original and new construction, wall junctions at masonry, and material transitions are resolved before installation. Brownstones are uneven by nature — finishes that ignore that fact show it.
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All planning decisions are fully documented before construction begins — driving accurate execution and eliminating on-site guesswork.
The construction process begins after every decision has been finalized.
Before scope, we assess the existing structure — party walls, original systems, masonry conditions, and any LPC obligations. In brownstones, what the building is determines what the project can be.
Layouts, service routing, structural modifications, and material selections are resolved to a build-ready level. Decisions are made in sequence — structure first, services second, finishes last.
DOB permit documentation and, where required, LPC submissions are prepared and coordinated before construction is scheduled. Approval timelines are built into the project plan — not treated as an afterthought.
Planning decisions are carried directly into construction by one accountable team, preserving intent under real jobsite conditions.
Thorough walkthrough before the project closes. All outstanding items resolved, permits closed with NYC DOB, and full documentation provided to you.
Brownstones across New York City are not uniform. Borough, block, decade of construction, and current configuration each affect what a renovation requires. We work across the full range.
Gut renovations of individual units or full building conversions require floor-by-floor coordination, shared system planning, and careful management of what affects neighbors below and above.
Where LPC oversight applies, exterior scope is documented and submitted as part of the standard project process. Historic character is treated as an asset to be preserved – not a bureaucratic obstacle to be worked around.
Some of the most complex projects involve buildings where previous work was done incorrectly, incompletely, or without permits. We assess what exists, identify what must be corrected, and build forward from an honest baseline.
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Renovation plans are developed with actual structural and building constraints in mind, which reduces revisions once construction is underway.
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Planning, coordination, and construction are managed under one accountable team — eliminating the hand-offs that cause miscommunication and delay.
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Decades of experience with apartments, co-ops, condos, and brownstones informs every decision we make.
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Finishes are chosen for durability and long-term behavior—not short-term visual appeal.
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Structured oversight and consistent communication keep every project controlled from start to finish.
Home renovation in NYC, planned to a build-ready level before construction begins.
Slide To Explore
A complete renovation of a Brooklyn townhouse brownstone, transforming an outdated interior into a modern, elegant living space while preserving its classic character.
A full renovation of a prewar commercial space in Manhattan’s Upper West Side was transformed into a fully equipped wine and liquor store with optimized retail and storage design.
A complete renovation of a two-story corporate office, transforming the space into a modern, functional workplace with glass-partitioned rooms and upgraded interiors.
A Brooklyn loft apartment renovation blending industrial heritage with modern interior design, creating a refined yet inviting living space.
A complete brownstone renovation in Brooklyn featuring full interior design, structural upgrades, and high-end kitchen and bathroom transformations.
A full gut renovation project transforming the entire property into a modern, functional, and high-quality living space from the ground up.
A comprehensive remodeling project covering both structural and finishing work across the 1st and 2nd floors, including interior upgrades, flooring, and exterior roofing improvements.
A full interior renovation focused on modernizing the kitchen and bathroom, complemented by upgraded flooring and high-quality finishing throughout the space.
A complete kitchen and bathroom renovation combined with structural upgrades, flooring refinishing, and full interior finishing across the entire space.
A full interior renovation of a Bedford Stuyvesant house, covering structural upgrades, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, plumbing improvements, and complete stair reconstruction.
We visit your premises, assess what’s actually possible inside your building, and give you a realistic scope, timeline, and cost before you commit to anything.
Have questions? We’ve answered some of the most common ones.
Landmarks Preservation Commission oversight applies to the exterior of buildings in designated historic districts — stoops, facades, cornices, windows, and ironwork. Interior renovations are generally not subject to LPC review, though they still require standard DOB permits. We assess your building’s designation status early and prepare any required documentation as part of our scope.
Any structural modification at or near a party wall — an opening, a beam pocket, a penetration — requires documentation and often a formal party wall agreement with the adjoining owner. We identify party wall implications during the assessment phase, before scope is finalized, so the project isn’t delayed by a requirement that should have been anticipated from the start.
Unpermitted work needs to be assessed and, in many cases, legalized or corrected before new work can proceed. We evaluate what exists, identify what the DOB will require, and build a realistic scope from that baseline. Discovering this after demolition starts is significantly more disruptive than addressing it in planning.
Yes — when structural conditions are properly assessed first. Brownstones have load-bearing walls in predictable locations, but original construction varies. We identify what can be opened, what requires steel or engineered support, and what should remain. Layout decisions follow structural reality, not the other way around.
Yes. Single-floor renovations, unit-by-unit upgrades, and partial renovations within occupied buildings are part of our scope. Phasing and sequencing in these projects require the same planning discipline as full-building work — sometimes more, because the margin for disruption is narrower.
