Demolition is continuing at 12 West 57th Street in Midtown, the site of a 672-foot-tall skyscraper that comes in at number 21 on our countdown of the tallest projects underway in the city. The 52-story project is designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM) and is being developed by Sheldon Solow of Solow Management Corp., who filed permits back in 2019. A preliminary rendering was revealed in early May, showing a slender black glass monolith rising behind a white glass and marbled stone podium. The development required the demolition of three low-rise structures spanning from 10 to 20 West 57th Street.
Recent photos show that the westernmost structure is fully razed, with the land leveled and mostly cleared of debris behind the green sidewalk construction boards. The other two buildings still remain standing next to the 99-year-old Crown Building at 730 Fifth Avenue, which is undergoing renovations and a conversion into the Aman New York hotel. Work appears to be progressing internally on the demolition of these structures, as indicated by the presence of sidewalk scaffolding and white plastic sheets covering the windows.
12 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
12 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
12 West 57th Street. Photo by Michael Young
Permits filed in February 2019 indicate that 12 West 57th Street is slated to yield 202,738 feet spread across 80 units and 180,396 square feet for commercial use including the hotel and retail. The building massing features a 15:1 height-to-width ratio and a curtain wall of dark glass, much like Solow’s 9 West 57th Street just across the street also designed by SOM. The rear side of 12 West 57th Street’s podium is shown to feature a loading dock on the ground level and several setbacks above for outdoor terraces. Another rendering shows a large black sculpture in the middle of a water feature, and a long rectangular canopy above the main entrance along West 57th Street.
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
No construction timeline or completion date for 12 West 57th Street has been announced, but YIMBY will keep an eye out for future updates.
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This building is so generic. I hope it’s redesigned in favor of something much taller and more distinctive, like the other Billionaire’s Row supertalls. They should hire a starchitect and produce a stunning, landmark design.
The 70s have returned.
BLACK & (a little) white..
“and is being developed by Sheldon Solow of Solow Management Corp.”
Well technically speaking it’s not being developed by Sheldon Solow anymore. Just saying. god rest his soul.
Yeah, I read about that many weeks ago. How come YIMBY didn’t make an article about that? Maybe they don’t want to talk about death and just Yes In My BackYard.
First off, I want to say that the photo with 53W53 in the background is quite stunning. ☺
Now, with 12 West 57th Street, I think it’s pretty nice. SOM always seems to impress, especially when they do buildings in NYC that are inspired by their own style back in the 60s all the way through the 80s. And yes, to Crawdad’s point, it’s a little bit plain and boring, but I think that’s what makes this building very nice in its design. That’s kind of how the 70s were like, right? Well, hopefully we’ll eventually get some more high quality renderings of 12 West 57th Street so we can get a better idea on how this building will truly look like in more detail. But overall, this looks really good.
I agree with you regarding 53W53, but remember the original design was about 200 feet taller. It would have been a spectacular addition to the skyline.
Solow passed away
Yes may Solow RIP. That said, now that he is gone I’d like to see his company move on architecturally. Aside from the white marble podium, this tower is virtually indistinguishable from his similar towers on York, 1st, and 2nd Avenues.
I’m sure these are going to be lovely units, but isn’t there a huge glut of new condos on 57th already?
It’s a shame and travesty that SOM architects couldn’t incorporate the detailed facades of the buildings now being demolished, into the lower floors of this “temporary residence” for future 1%’ers!? They could have retained the historic streetscape while squeezing the black “momolith” in the back!
(I was in NYC 3 years ago August, and walked this very street while admiring all the classic historical detailing on these buildings now being turned into landfill, and it is truly sad. ?
At least I have pictures. As for the new SHINY tower, I’ll pass on my next trip.)
what a stunning disappointment this is, contributing nothing to the streetscape, and again nothing to the skyline.
it’s not worth the loss of the beautifully worked limestone of the buildings being demolished.
a net loss for, what should be, one of the stellar locations in the city; apparently there’s money, why skimp on talent?
Dreary and ugly.
Wow, SOM really reached into the old parts bin for this one. Yawn…..
The old buildings are much better looking than this ugliness nothing. Black boxes on top of each .
Ugggghly!!
How can any forward thinking client and architect consider demolishing an existing structure that can be repurposes, restores, rehabilitated, expanded, etc.? I think demolition should be permitted only if the structure has collapsed. Renovations and restorations are challenging, a good architect can manage challenges.
1972 called. They want they’re building design back.
I’m confused. the rendering shows the new building 12 West 57th St. butting up against the Crown building. But six W. 57th St. isn’t being demolished. So why does the rendering not include 6 W. 57th St.? It’s between the Crown building and the new 12 W. 57th St. Can someone explain. thanks
U G L Y…………………. ! ! !
Most of the pre-wars should have been spared.
That’s going to be one very busy loading dock!