YIMBY Tours Brookfield’s Manhattan West Development, First Look at Rooftop Views

Brookfield has officially celebrated the topping out of the 67-story One Manhattan West, aka OMW, the largest of six structures in their six million square foot Manhattan West development in Midtown West. The project has successfully lured several large companies to lease, and plans to add a significant amount of public space to the city. For a complete update on the construction, YIMBY visited the site, capturing top-floor views from both The Eugene and OMW.

Manhattan West, image via Brookfield

The scale of Manhattan West would, in any other neighborhood or city, be revolutionary. However, the project is literally across the street from Hudson Yards, the highly anticipated $25 billion project led by Related Companies and Oxford Properties Groups. It is the large largest private development in US History, and once complete it will yield over half the land area of Central Park, at 18 million square feet.

Hudson Yards from the Eugene, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

While Hudson Yards has been a public spectacle, Brookfield has been remarkably successful in delivering  as well. 90% of OMW has now been leased, with Ernst & Young claiming the largest stake of 640,000 square feet. New York-based law firm Skadden Arps will be taking 550,000 square feet, and the NHL another 175,000 square feet. Accenture, which leased 250,000 square feet, will be occupying the floors where YIMBY toured last week.

The renovated 5 Manhattan West, image via Brookfield

Five Manhattan West interior, will soon be publicly accessible with retail, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

Five Manhattan West has already opened a sizable amount of office space, including Amazon’s 360,000 square foot occupancy. The NHL Headquarters will soon occupy another 160,000 square feet, which will also be accompanied by a 15,000 square foot retail superstore. Along with a new Whole Foods, a Peloton fitness center will be opening up as soon as the central courtyard is complete. The 32,000 square foot leasing has included a studio, retail front, and offices. The deal won JLL and Newmark Knight Frank a REBNY “Most Ingenious Retail Deal of the Year” award.

Retail courtyard for Manhattan West taking shape with the old Post Office building across the platform, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

Manhattan West will also soon yield a two-acre public park designed by James Corner Field Operations, famed for the nearby High Line Park. The shops take inspiration from the success of Chelsea Market, and hope to create an equally engaging space with a mix of food, retail, and pop-ups. The central courtyard sits on a platform above a large parking garage and active railway tracks. It will open up a quarter million square feet of retail.

The Pendry Hotel, rendering via Manhattan West

Pendry Hotels will take charge of the hotel space in 4 Manhattan West. The California-based company will manage the 164 guest rooms, along with a restaurant, terrace bar, and event space. Groundbreaking is expected to start later this year, and completion is expected by 2021.

3 Manhattan West, rendering via Brookfield

The first completed building was the Eugene at 3 Manhattan West, opened last year. The 730-foot tall structure has 844 new apartments.

One Manhattan West at night, 30HY to the right, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

Once OMW is complete, the 995-foot tall structure will yield 2.1 million square feet. Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill is responsible for the design.

Rendering of One Manhattan West’s lobby

At the building’s base, installation of the stone lobby space and 45-foot tall curtain wall is progressing. The entrance is designed to reflect the idealism of transparency respected in corporate branding.

One Manhattan West from the Eugene, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

The façade has reached ten floors below the top floor, marking a seven floor-increase since we last covered the project just over a month ago. While closing up the final few floors of the façade for towers is often prolonged, we can still learn from the visual proximity to completion about how the tower will fit into the surrounding neighborhood.

Midtown from One Manhattan West, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

Though Hudson Yards prevents a clear view of the river, the Midtown sights are unmatched, with the New York Times building by Renzo Piano near Times Square being the closest comparable skyscraper, over half a mile away. Central Park Tower, 111 West 57th Street, and 53 West 53rd Street all stand out along the skyline.

One Manhattan Square and Brooklyn Point seen from One Manhattan West, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

Looking toward Brooklyn, Extell’s One Manhattan Square and the orange construction fence netting of Brooklyn Point structures stick out. From the top of OMW, it’s clear that progress is also moving forward on the Empire Station Complex.

Empire Station Complex from the Eugene Manhattan West, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

OMW is expected to open next year. Two Manhattan West is expected to open by 2022.

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