Excavation is complete and foundation work has begun at the site of The Pyramid, to be developed by Durst at 625 West 57th Street. Designed by Bjarke Ingels, the project was met with widespread acclaim when first unveiled, and it appears it will actually be built, as plans for the new tower have finally been approved by City Planning.
Rising 467 feet and 32 stories, The Pyramid will be a necessary transformation for a stretch of 57th Street that is completely forlorn – the location is several blocks removed from the nearest subway station, which partially explains why the site has been empty for so long. Once complete, the tower will dominate the immediate vicinity, and will hopefully lead to a greater impetus for the redevelopment of the neighboring IRT power station.
The old IRT power plant is enormous, and several ideas have been floated regarding its future, but converting the plant into a large-scale commercial space would be most practical and feasible. Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Historic Preservation has a great presentation on the building, detailing its historic significance and how it could be transformed to meet modern needs.
With foundation work on Durst’s Pyramid now underway, the superstructure should be visible shortly, as the basement level is barely below the street – 625 West 57th Street is adjacent to the Hudson River, and the ground it sits on is old landfill. The building spans the entire block, so each floor will be arduous, but – per Crain’s – completion has been tentatively scheduled for spring of 2015.
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