New renderings of 170 Amsterdam Avenue have appeared on Handel’s website; the firm is the architect of record for the project, which is approaching topping-out. The 20-story and 236-unit building is being developed by Equity Residential.
Per Handel, the “building’s massing and design are driven by the site’s long, narrow shape,” and consequently, “the building’s structure [was moved] to the exterior in the form of an exoskeleton.”
170 Amsterdam Avenue — image from Handel
Indeed, the latest imagesl depict the completed building in all its contemporary glory; the rendered view, looking west on 68th Street, invites a comparison between 170 Amsterdam’s dynamic cross-bracing, and the staid post-war architecture that typifies the vicinity — and it is unflattering to the latter.
170 Amsterdam Avenue — image from Handel
The design is a striking contrast to most new residential construction in Manhattan, especially as the ‘exoskeleton’ is such a crucial component; facades are typically more of an afterthought. Turning cutting-edge engineering into potential aesthetic accessory benefits developers and the public, especially on difficult sites like 170 Amsterdam Avenue, where constraints lead to innovation and creativity.
Equity’s latest undertaking is expected to be complete by 2015.
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