1939-40, MetLife Board of Design: Gilmore D. Clarke, Irwin Clavan, Robert W. Dowling, Andrew J. Eken, George Gove, Henry C. Meyer & Richmond H. Shreve

The layout of the Parkchester Apartment Complex draws heavily from Le Corbusier's "Towers in the Park" model, which gained popularity among public housing developments between the mid-1950s and 1970s. The style is characterized by clusters of high-rise residential buildings surrounded by green space, providing dense, low-cost housing for urban workers while also reducing congestion. MetLife established a Board of Design led by architect Richmond H. Shreve to develop a plan for Parkchester. Among their first decision was the incorporation and expansion of an existing street that divided the property diagonally. An intersecting second avenue was then added, creating four quadrants that would organize the entire complex. This also allowed for more manageably size sections, fewer paving needs and controlled vehicular traffic. Buildings were distributed in groups of different heights to maximize access to light and air. Open space was prioritized, with playgrounds, ball fields, gardens, sitting areas and tree-lined walkways occupying more than 70% of the land. Service structures and commercial corridors were also included, creating a self-contained community.