Construction Update: 53 West 53rd Street
Construction rises above ground at Jean Nouvel's iconic diagrid tower in Midtown.
After many years in development limbo, the iconic diagrid of Jean Nouvel's 53W53 tower in Midtown has started to rise. Planning for the tower, from developers Hines and Pontiac Land Group with financing from Goldman Sachs, began all the way back in 2006 and was unveiled to the public in November of 2007. Since then, there has been a height reduction from 1250' down to 1050' and Diller Scofidio + Renfro have been tapped to design the tower's included expansion of MoMA.
Southwest corner from West 53rd Street.
The tower's signature identity comes from its diagrid structure, the diganolly criss-crossing of normally vertical concrete columns that will be expressed on the facade. Unlike the exposed concrete diagrid at the recently completed 170 Amsterdam, renderings suggest that Nouvel's structure will be clad, perhaps with metal panels.
West facade from West 53rd Street.
When completed, the 82-story tower will include 140 residential condo units ranging from one- to five-bedrooms, the largest of which will be a 7,892-square-foot duplex penthouse. The tower's unique shape impacts the design of each unit, ensuring that each has a unique floor plan. Interiors for the apartments and amenites are designed by Thierry Despont.
Southeast corner from West 53rd Street.
Southeast corner.
Detail of the tower branding on the sidewalk shed.
Northwest corner from West 54th Street.
North facade from West 54th Street.
Looking up at the north facade from West 54th Street.
Diagrid detail on the north facade.
Diagrid detail on the north facade.
Northeast corner from West 54th Street.
Architects: Ateliers Jean Nouvel (Design Architect), SLCE (Executive Architect); Interiors: Office of Thierry Despont; Developers: Hines, Pontiac Land Group, and Goldman Sachs; Program: Residential, Retail, Musuem; Location: Midtown, New York, NY; Completion: November 2018.
225 East 39th Street
Superstructure has topped out at Fisher Brothers' residential tower in Murray Hill.
Superstructure has topped out and curtain wall installation is ongoing at Fisher Brothers' 36-story tower in Murray Hill. Designed by Handel Architects, the 372-unit residential tower features a curved southern façade with large glass bays and vertical stripes of shadow box units that create a random pattern. Horizontal and vertical white spandrel panels frame and define these glazing zones throughout the facades. Completion looks to be on track for an early 2017 completion.
Architect: Handel Architects; Developer: Fisher Brothers; Program: Residential, Retail; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
22-22 Jackson Avenue
ODA's signature residential building in Long Island City nears completion and awaits its first tenants.
Construction is wrapping up at the Gershon Company's 22-22 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City. Designed by the prolific firm ODA, the massing of the 11-story, 175-residential-unit mixed-use building features the firm's signature stacked forms in a playful jumble of ins and outs. Maroon framed windows are installed in the distinct boxes created by the exposed concrete structure. The massing also provides opportunities for residential terraces atop the protruding boxes but the maroon railings detract a bit from the purity of the massing diagram. Amenities for the project are housed in the two story base and include a lobby, lounge, library spaces, gym, indoor pool, and a landscaped courtyard on the 3rd floor roof deck. The project looks to be near ready for its first tenants.
Southeast corner.
East elevation with the former Five Pointz site in the foreground.
Northeast corner from the Court Square subway station platform.
Northeast corner from the Court Square subway station.
East facade from Jackson Avenue.
Northeast corner from Jackson Avenue.
North elevation from Jackson Avenue.
Northeast corner from Crane Street.
East facade with storefront.
East facade detail.
Looking up at the east facade from Crane Street.
Southeast corner from Crane Street.
Cornell Tech Campus
Progress continues at the first phase of Cornell NYC Tech's new Roosevelt Island campus as all buildings have topped out and facade installation begins on the residential tower.
Construction continues at the new campus for Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. Steel erection is complete at Morphosis' Bloomberg Center and Weiss/Manfredi's co-location building, known as the Bridge at Cornell Tech. At the Hudson Companies' 26-story residential tower for graduate students, superstructure has topped out and facade panel installation is underway on the lower floors. Designed by Handel Architects, the tower will be the world's tallest project built to the Passive House standards for energy efficiency. Phase One looks to be on track for its mid 2017 opening date.
Looking east towards the Cornell Tech campus from the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Looking east towards the Cornell Tech campus from the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Looking south towards the Cornell Tech campus from the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Looking south towards the Cornell Tech campus from the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Cornell Tech Campus from the intersection of North Loop Road and West Loop Road.
North facade of the Cornell Tech Residential Building from North Loop Road.
Facade panels awaiting installation on the Residential Building.
Looking up at the north facade of the Cornell Tech Residential Building.
Close-up of facade panel installation underway at the Residential Building.
Northeast corner of the Cornell Tech Residential Building (center) and the Bridge (left).
Close-up of the Residential Building's northeast facade.
Northeast corner of the Bridge at Cornell Tech from North Loop Road.
Looking north toward the Cornell Tech Campus from Southpoint Park.
Looking north toward the Cornell Tech Campus from Southpoint Park.
Southwest corner of the Bloomberg Center and the Bridge.
Close-up of the south facade of the Bridge.
West facade and canopy of the Bloomberg Center.
West facade and canopy of the Bloomberg Center.
Architects: SOM (Master Plan, Central Utility Plant), Morphosis (The Bloomberg Center), Weiss/Manfredi (The Bridge at Cornell Tech), Handel Architects (Residential Tower); Landscape Architects: Field Operations (Campus Plaza); Program: Education, Office, Residential, Open Space; Location: Roosevelt Island, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
CUMC Medical and Graduate Education Building
Facade work nears completion at Columbia University Medical College's new Medical and Graduate Education Building in Washington Heights.
Curtain wall installation nears completion at Columbia University Medical College's new Graduate and Education Building in Washington Heights. The glass façade has been installed on both the normative northern half and the more lively southern half that houses the "Study Cascade," with only the cladding of the concrete slabs and walls left to be completed. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Gensler, the 14-story tower will house classroom, simulation and training facilities for the college. Within the "Study Cascade," students and faculty will be able to gather in a variety of spaces. Floor to ceiling glass will allow for open views of Manhattan and the Hudson River.
Construction is slated for completion some time this year, with the goal of achieving LEED gold certification.
Architects: Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Gensler; Program: Education; Location: Washington Heights, New York, NY; Completion: 2016.
Court Square
Construction continues on one of Queens' most active blocks for development, as three towers rise simultaneously.
Construction continues in Court Square at one of Queens' most active blocks for development. Bounded by Jackson Avenue to the north and Purves Street and 44th Drive to the east and west, this block in Long Island City currently has three towers under construction simultaneously.
Northwest corner of the block with 44-28 Purves Street (center),Watermark Court Square (right), and 27-21 44th Drive (far right).
Northwest corner of Watermark Court Square (left) and 27-21 44th Drive (right).
Watermark Court Square
Twining Properties' 27-story, 150,000 square foot rental tower sits mid block, facing 44th Drive. Known as Watermark Court Square, the Handel Architects' designed tower will offer 168 units in a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. At the ground floor, the building will offer 2,500 square feet of retail space. Currently the concrete superstructure has reached the sixth floor.
West facade of Watermark Court Square.
27-21 44th Drive
Directly adjacent to the Twining Properties' tower, Silvercup Studios is developing a 26-story, 120 unit condo tower at 27-21 44th Drive. GF55 Partners is designing and construction has surpassed the 18th floor with its concrete superstructure. Along with the 105,562 square feet of residential space, the ground floor will feature 6,780-square feet of commercial space.
Looking up at the west facade of 27-21 44th Drive.
West facade of Watermark Court Square (left), 27-21 44th Drive (center), and 44-28 Purves Street (right).
West facade of Watermark Court Square (left), 27-21 44th Drive (center), and 44-28 Purves Street (right).
Looking north from the intersection of 44th Drive and Thomson Avenue with 43-25 Hunter Street (left), Watermark Court Square (center), 27-21 44th Drive (right), and 44-28 Purves Street (far right).
44-28 Purves Street
The third project on the block, a 35-story rental tower at 44-28 Purves Street, sits at the south end, nearest to Thomson Avenue. Developed by Brause Realty and the Gotham Organization, the tower features a massing of layered vertical slabs that will increase the number of corner units from the typical rectangular extruded site footprint of many towers. The tower's east west orientation will offer residents with views towards Queens to the east and Lower Manhattan to the west. A mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments will be offered from the tower's 270 units. Retail space and amenities will be located in a two story podium that spans the block. Superstructure has now surpassed the 18th floor and window wall installation has begun on the east facade.
44-28 Purves Street from Thomson Avenue.
Looking north towards 27-21 44th Drive (left) and 44-28 Purves Street (right).
Looking up at the east facade from Purves Street.
Looking south on Purves Street towards 44-28 Purves Street.
525 West 52nd Street
Superstructure has topped out at Taconic Investment Partners and Mitsui Fudosan America's two tower development in Hell's Kitchen.
Superstructure has topped out at 525 West 52nd Street, a two-tower rental development in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. Developed by Taconic Investment Partners and Mitsui Fudosan America, the project brings 392 rental units to the neighborhood.
Handel Architects' design for the project includes a 22-story tower on West 53rd Street and a 14-story tower fronting West 52nd Street. Both towers are connected by a ground floor lobby and retail space that spans the block. A 13,486-square-foot courtyard will be located between the two towers at the second floor, offering an open space amenity. Combined, the towers will offer 392 units 80 of which will be offered through the affordable housing program.
Along with reaching the topping out milestone, brick and window installation is underway on the West 52nd Street facade. Completion is expected for 2017.
Northwest corner from the intersection of 11th Avenue and West 53rd Street.
Northwest corner from West 53rd Street.
Looking up at the north facade at the West 53rd Street tower.
Looking up at the north facade at the West 53rd Street tower.
Northeast corner from West 53rd Street.
South facade from West 52nd Street.
Looking up at the south facade from West 52nd Street.
Close-up of the brick and glass facade at West 52nd Street.
Looking up at the South facade from West 52nd Street.
Looking east towards the northwest corner of the project and the Mercedes House from De Witt Clinton Park.
Architect: Handel Architects; Developer: Taconic Investment Partners and Mitsui Fudosan America; Program: Residential, Retail; Location: Midtown, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
American Copper Buildings
JDS Development Group re-brands its twin towers at 626 First Avenue and opens up the skybridge for a construction tour.
JDS Development Group has re-branded its twin residential rental towers at 626 First Avenue on the East River waterfront in Manhattan. Designed by SHoP Architects, the towers will now be known as the American Copper Buildings. The change came alongside an event to unveil the skybridge, which connects the sloping 41 and 49-story towers with amenities such as an indoor lap pool and residents' lounge. Structure for the bridge has been completed with cladding yet to come.
Curtain wall installation continues for the project's signature copper cladding on the north and south facades, with only a few floors left to be enclosed on either tower. The east and west facades feature a glass curtain wall that allows for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline.
Construction is slated to wrap up on both towers by 2017.
Double height amenity space.
Inside the top level of the skybridge.
Close-up of the copper and glass north facade.
A view of the Empire State Building and the copper facade from the skybridge.
Close-up of the south copper and glass facade.
East facade of the skybridge under construction.
Skybridge structure.
Skybridge structure detail.
View of the Queens waterfront and Roosevelt Island from the skybridge.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
Hunters Point Community Library
Concrete surpasses the two-thirds mark at Steven Holl Architects' Hunters Point Community Library on the Queens waterfront.
Progress continues on the cast-in-place concrete structure at Steven Holl Architects' public library on the Queens' waterfront in Hunters Point.
Situated among the recent crop of towers on the waterfront in Hunters Point, the structure will rise to approximately 104 feet. Inside, the building embraces the library typology's new role as community hub with a diverse array of programs. An adult reading collection, children's area, teen area, cyber-center, conference room and outdoor amphitheater are all housed in the 22,000 square foot structure. This diversity in program is registered on the building's facades with large organic openings that provide light and views out. At night, the light will shine through the openings, a dramatic lantern on the Queens waterfront visible to the community and Manhattan.
Currently, the cast-in-place concrete exterior walls have surpassed two-thirds of the library's final height. Completion is slated for sometime next year.
Northwest corner from Gantry State Park.
Northwest corner from Gantry State Park.
Southwest corner from Gantry State Park.
West facade.
East facade.
Close-up of the east facade.
Northeast corner.
Architect: Steven Holl Architects; Client: New York City Department of Design and Construction, Queens Library; Program: Library; Location: Hunters Point, Long Island City, Queens, NY; Completion: 2017.
45 East 22nd Street - Madison Square Park Tower
Close to topping out at developer Bruce Eichner and KPF's 777-foot-tall tower in the Flatiron District.
Superstructure is close to topping out at 45 East 22nd Street. Developed by Bruce Eichner of The Continuum Company, the 65-story, 777-foot tower rising near Madison Square Park will eclipse the 618-foot-tall One Madison. The tower is designed by prolific New York architects Kohn Pedersen Fox.
Nestled mid block amongst the low-rise masonry and stone buildings typical of the Flatiron District, the tower's five-story base will be clad in granite. The granite coursing and bronze detailing of the entry doors and canopy will tie into the neighborhood context and welcome the tower's residents and guests.
From the 75-foot wide granite base, the glass tower rises towards its 777-foot apex, tapering outward on the western facade to a final width of 125 feet. The tower's floor-to-ceiling glass cladding will offer panoramic views of New York and New Jersey. Eighty-three residences will be offered in a variety of configurations from simplex, duplex, full-floor and penthouse homes. Interiors designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio will take inspiration from the Art Deco and Moderne precedents of the neighborhood.
Residents will have access to five floors of amenities in the granite-clad base, including a library, fitness center, children's playroom, living room, and billiard's room. The Upper Club at the 54th floor will offer an entertainment suite with catering and demonstration kitchens for all residents.
Completion of the tower is slated for late 2016.
View of the Met Life Tower (left), 45 E 22 (center), and One Madison (rigtht) from 5th Avenue.
Looking up at the north facade from East 23rd Street.
Looking up at the southeast corner of the tower from East 22nd Street.
Looking up at the south facade from East 22nd Street.
Looking up at the southwest corner of the tower from East 22nd Street.
Looking up at the west facade with One Madison reflected in the curtain wall.
One Madison reflected in the glass curtain wall.
Looking east on East 22nd Street.
45 East 22nd Street (center) rising above Union Square.
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF); Interior Architect: Martin Brudnizki Design Studio; Landscape Architect: Oehme van Sweden; Developer: The Continuum Company; Program: Residential; Location: Flatiron District, New York, NY; Completion: 2016.
