217 West 57th Street’s design remains in flux, but using the detailed blueprints YIMBY received earlier this summer — for the tentatively 1,775 foot tower — its overall impact on the skyline can now be rendered. Though official images from Extell remain lacking, the latest glimpse depicts the 92-story supertall’s appearance from several perspectives, and its domination of Midtown will be impressive.
Nordstrom Tower, 217 West 57th Street, hi-res at link
An elevation profile gives a look inside the tower, and at its different components, which range from a Nordstrom at the base, to a hotel, and condominiums on the uppermost levels. They will peek above the future 220 Central Park South, just across the street, and culminate nearly 1,500 feet above street level, becoming the highest residences in New York City.
While 220 Central Park South will borrow from architect Robert A. M. Stern’s limestone touch, its taller companion will be an exercise in glass and metal, designed by architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill. Glass will dominate the facade, and “fins” will be clad in stainless steel, which will be the dominant metal. The building also includes painted aluminum louvers.
217 West 57th Street, hi-res at link
With news that Neiman Marcus will be anchoring Hudson Yards, and opening the same year as Nordstrom — in 2018 — 217 West 57th Street will arrive on the edge of a new retail boom in Manhattan. High-rent horizons are expanding well beyond Fifth Avenue and SoHo, and the West Side is finally receiving its due. Nordstrom will measure approximately 200,000 square feet, a moderate portion of the development’s approximately 1.3 million square foot overall floor area.
432 Park Avenue and 217 West 57th Street viewed from the rooftop at The Met
Viewed from The Met, the building will appear far taller than anything else in Midtown. With 432 Park Avenue’s ascent, the skyline has become somewhat skewed, but Nordstrom will stand nearly 400 feet above any other pinnacle, restoring balance between the East and West sides.
217 West 57th Street
Taken in the context of the cityscape, the cantilever over the Art Students League is invisible, hidden beneath the forest of surrounding buildings. 217 West 57th’s defining feature will be sheer height, epitomized by the spires sitting atop the tower. Even if the final number does measure 1,775 feet — just a foot shy of One World Trade Center — the elevation of Nordstrom will make it the tallest point in the New York region, as the site is approximately 100 feet above sea level, whereas its Downtown rival sits just a dozen feet above the typical high tide mark.
The project has been codenamed ‘Project 865,’ and Extell’s renderings are apparently being crafted at Visualhouse, though the images remain elusive.
217 West 57th Street, hi-res at link
New permits relating to scaffolding indicate a roof height of 1,490 feet, which would be a very minor upwards adjustment compared to the diagrams. The number of condominium units has also been reduced to 199.
In terms of progress on the ground, excavation has made major headway in recent weeks, and the enormous pit is finally nearing its maximum size. Once all the debris has been removed, concrete pouring will begin, with completion currently expected in 2017-2018.
217 West 57th Street, excavation as of 8/25, photo by Andrew McKeon
For any questions, comments, or feedback, email [email protected]
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
