Demolition work is continuing at 1568 Broadway in Times Square, where the 46-story, 470-foot-tall building now stands less than 20 stories high. Designed by PBDW Architects, Mancini Duffy, and Perkins Eastman and developed by L&L Holding Company, Maefield Development, and Fortress Investment Group, the project involves the partial demolition of the former DoubleTree Suites by Hilton and construction of a new 46-story, 550,000-square-foot hotel tower dubbed TSX Broadway, on its foundations. This also includes the preservation of the 108-year-old Palace Theater, which will be raised 30 feet to make room for ground-floor retail space. The site is located at the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 47th Street, directly across from the TKTS stairs.
Photographs show the steel superstructure dismantled below the height of its southern neighbor’s parapet. Black netting and scaffolding continues to shroud the majority of the building’s lower remnant.
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
Meanwhile, a large multi-story portion of the steel frame facing West 47th Street is exposed, revealing the intricate framework that once rested behind the tall wrap-around marquees and LED screens. Part of this visible assembly began receiving additional structural bracing at various points last summer.
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
Each level of the hoist extends deep into the building.
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
The difference between the new and old steel framework is discernible by color, as the old beams are coated in peeling white paint and the new assembly is plain dark red.
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
Large diagonal braces and trusses rise up from street level and will help to safely transfer the loads of 1568 Broadway.
1568 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young
TSX Broadway will open with 75,000 square feet of retail space spanning the first ten stories, a 4,000-square-foot performance venue featuring Times Square’s only permanent outdoor stage cantilevering above Seventh Avenue, 30,000 square feet of dining space, and a 669-key hotel in the main tower above. The podium will be enveloped in 51,000 square feet of LED signage with a wrap around the northern corner. The lifting of the Palace Theater, originally designed by Kirchoff & Rose, is expected to occur later this spring.
YIMBY last reported that the commercial spaces are would be ready for tenants in 2021, while the full completion and opening of TSX Broadway is expected sometime next year.
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It’s crazy, it’s silly, it’s expensive, but yet I think TSX Broadway will actually be kind of cool. But that’s just my opinion. Speaking of which, nice photos by Michael Young showing the exposed steel structure of the original 1568 Broadway building. Nice.
How the hell do you raise a 108 yr. old theater 30 ft.?
Huge fan of this project. It’s the most times square thing ever. Plus,Times Square should have had a permanent outdoor performance venue long ago.
Oy vey
SO…. LET’S BE VERY CLEAR.
YOU CAN’T PRESERVE A 108 YEAR OLD THEATRE BY RAISING IT FOR RETAIL SPACE. PRETTY INSULTING IF YOU REALLY KNOW THE THEATRES HISTORY.
OH….HOW THIS NEW YORK CITY IS TRULY SCREWED BY THE POOCHES.