Preparation work has begun for the residential conversion of 25 Water Street, a 22-story former office building in Manhattan’s Financial District. Designed by CetraRuddy and developed by GFP Real Estate, Metro Loft Management, and Rockwood Capital, the project involves the construction of ten new stories above the parapet of the existing structure, the replacement of its brick façade with a modern fenestration with more expansive windows, and the gut renovation of its 1.1 million square feet of interiors into 1,300 rental units. When complete, the conversion will be the largest ever in the United States by unit count, surpassing the recent redevelopment of One Wall Street with its 566 condominiums. Pavarini McGovern is the general contractor for the property, which is Water Street to the north, 2 New York Plaza to the south, the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the east, and Broad Street to the west.