Exterior work is nearing the finish line on 611 West 56th Street, aka 823 Eleventh Avenue, a 450-foot-tall condominium tower in Hell’s Kitchen. Designed by Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza with SLCE as the architect of record and developed by Sumaida + Khurana and LENY, the slender reinforced concrete structure will yield 80 residential units designed by Gabellini Sheppard Associates. Foundations Group is the general contractor for the Midtown, Manhattan project, which rises on a corner lot at the intersection of West 56th Street and Eleventh Avenue.
Since our last update in January, nearly all of the remaining white limestone façade panels and windows have been installed, with only work around the ground floor left to be completed.
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
Crews have performed a substantial amount of work since the winter, particularly on the upper half of the edifice up to the rectangular mechanical extension sitting atop the tower. The scaffolding rigs on the skinny eastern side and wider southern profile have all been removed. Overall, the outside appearance is sleek, simple, and provides subtle details that can only be admired up close, such as the parquet pattern arrangement of the limestone panels that covers the entire north side.
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
Units on the upper levels of 611 West 56th Street will provide views of the entire Midtown skyline from Billionaires’ Row directly to the east, to Hudson Yards to the south, to the Hudson River and New Jersey waterfront to the west. Residents will get abundant natural light exposure year round.
Billionaires’ Row from 611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
Hudson Yards from 611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
Tucked away from view of the street will be a private landscaped garden.
The private garden space at 611 West 56th Street. Photo by Michael Young
611 West 56th Street is slated to be finished this fall, as noted on the construction board.
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Wow! This building has turned out to be amazing! It’s sleek, yet contemporary and simple design makes 611 West 56th Street really standout. Even the back looks good, though I’m not sure how well it will age though. Anyhow, this is a great tower.
Never seen views here before, when you went out for beautiful building. You took the available photos at the structure, I was facing a white becoming new property to the city: Thanks to Michael Young.
I agree that this slender building looks great, but…
the entire “back side” with that large blank white wall is like a “spite fence” to the neighboring building. I would hate to be 20 floors up, and stare at that glaring white all day! ☹
Something about this building has me mesmerized. Not sure if it’s the intricate tiling on the north side, or the corner-less windows facing east. Or the juxtaposition against the neighboring 606 W 57th Street. I love it.
Where can you apply?
..In your dreams
Hahahahaha
That’s really far west
Far West? Its on Eighth Avenue.
That’s really east if you live in Jersey….what does that’s really far west mean?
What I worry about is in 10 years, how the perfect limestone skin, with no detailing will look, after winters and smog, and dirt and interior steel clamps all begin to take their toll….and the building begins to show its age. While Siza’s work is compelling enough, NY is not Portugal and freeze/thaw/pollution makes it’s mark on buildings in this environment…
This building is sleek. It continues the pattern of having a tower set back from the base with the base conforming to more traditional heights in the area. I guess what I like about it is the materials and the massing. It’s not another dull, glass tower and it rises sleek from its base. Nice addition to the neighborhood. As for the wall that has simply been cladded, the developer often simply follows the zoning requirements. If no windows are required – or desired – on that side of the building then the developer may skip them. The tower to the north chose to put in windows and capitalize on views for as long as they could but had to anticipate they would have a neighbor at some point. Additionally, when towers are set back from their base they are no longer flush with the adjoining building so windows can legally be put in. But if you do, someday you are either going to be looking at a blank wall or looking in someone’s bathroom.
Much better than the usual glass curtain wall towers.