In total, the Complex has Parkchester 12,271 apartments in 171 red- rick buildings, grouped into 51 clusters. Heights range from 7 to 13 stories, creating a heterogeneous skyline that ensures access to sunlight to each unit. The buildings were also placed at least 60 feet apart, to facilitate air circulation. The tallest structures are at the corners of the main avenues and around the open spaces, as not to obstruct light, while the rest of the buildings are informally arranged throughout the interior of each quadrant. To keep construction costs low and the timeline tight, the buildings were designed using a modular unit system. Three different “core” structures were created, which contained the main services -staircases, elevators, trash chutes and ventilation- as well as kitchens and foyers. These "cores" were combined with five different "wings" which included living rooms, bedrooms, and other living spaces. The layout standardization allowed for materials to be purchased in bulk, providing a variety of apartment units without compromising the project's affordability. Photo: View of the southeast quadrant under construction, ca. 1939, by Architectural Forum.