270 Park Avenue’s Steel Superstructure Approaches First Setback in Midtown East, Manhattan

270 Park Avenue. Rendering © DBOX for Foster + Partners

Construction is rising toward the first setback on 270 Park Avenue, the 60-story supertall headquarters for JPMorgan Chase in Midtown East. Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners and developed by Tishman Speyer, the 1,388-foot-tall skyscraper will yield 2.5 million square feet of office space and will set a record as the tallest New York building to be powered by hydroelectric energy. The steel is being fabricated by Banker Steel and assembled on site by NYC Constructors LLC over a giant full-block parcel bound by Park Avenue to the east, Madison Avenue to the west, East 47th Street to the south, and East 48th Street to the north.

The steel superstructure has risen steadily since our last update in early May, and is now only a couple floors below the first setback.

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

The start of the diamond shaped pattern is becoming more visible, and can be seen from along Park and Madison Avenues. This feature will be present on the eastern and western sides of the supertall between each of the four setbacks. Based on the pace of progress, crews should reach the first setback sometime in the first half of July. It’s possible to see 270 Park Avenue come close to the halfway mark by the end of the year, and perhaps see the superstructure top out before the end of 2023. The speed in construction should increase as the floor plates get smaller after every setback.

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

A group of new steel trusses has been added to the western half of the base. These white-colored vertical members are positioned near the center by the northern and southern edges of the building’s overall footprint, framing what will become a pair of elevator and egress cores.

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

Other steel sections within the base are being spray painted white.

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

Patti & Sons is responsible for fireproofing the steel and is currently working on the first floor above the base, behind the draped white tarps that hang along the perimeter. The black netting and safety cocoon above continue to climb as the tower rises.

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

270 Park Avenue is slated for completion by 2025.

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16 Comments on "270 Park Avenue’s Steel Superstructure Approaches First Setback in Midtown East, Manhattan"

  1. This building sure is girthy.

  2. I suppose one should keep steel bridges in mind when boggling the angles in that base..

  3. David : Sent From Heaven. | June 14, 2022 at 10:35 am | Reply

    The superstructure magnified by steel on all sides, and maintainable work order from developer. So magnificence with its setbacks and size, that beautiful to show is on the lookout; as I am looker-on: Thanks to Michael Young.

  4. David in Bushwick | June 14, 2022 at 10:43 am | Reply

    I walked around this just the other day. The huge angled steel columns are… impressive. But I couldn’t help thinking if just one of those column clusters fails, the whole thing comes down.

    • For the total structure they have to carry, the series of four sloping columns coming down to a single node at street level do indeed look awfully slender. Gut instinct suggests they ought to be half as big again although the fact that the gusset plates are welded as opposed to bolted indicates that the columns are RHS members which could explain their too slight appearance. The gusset plates themselves look way too thin evoking memories of the I-35W bridge incident. It might not be out of order for Foster to obtain a second opinion on the structural calcs. Just saying.

      • All of these engineers, just like architects, need to have their final design documents peer-reviewed for a building of this scale. Soooo other engineers have already looked it over and agree it’s sufficient. Back seat engineers all over this comment section lol its gonna be okay I promise

        • These procedures were all reportedly followed on the I-35W bridge. At the time of its construction, a number of back-seat engineers raised the issue of whether the gusset plates were man enough to do the job.

    • Agreed. I don’t get some of these new towers (under construction or proposed) with their bases being narrower than the structure that rises above it.

      • This raises an interesting question. In the context of overturning moments due to wind loadings on a 1,400-feet structure, the base of the building is significantly reduced in area due to the structural tapering. This begs the question of whether it was necessary to incorporate rock anchors at foundation level in order that resistance to overturning would be adequate including of course the required safety factor. The foundation of 111 W 57th St reportedly has numerous such anchors extending 100 feet into the rock.

  5. Am still amazed about all the
    engineering “calculations” that were involved to ensure this massive SUPERTALL would be supported by a few steel “chopsticks”!! 😨

  6. CEO of JPMorgan Chase is Jamie Dimon, and building has ‘diamond’ pattern? Ultimate vanity project! ♦️

  7. Inspired by the Pulaski Skyway

  8. Future office
    Can’t wait

  9. Kissena Davis | June 23, 2022 at 8:51 am | Reply

    Nice property!

  10. Does anyone know how far up the highest actual floor will be?
    The Twin Towers fit forty more floors in structures 20 feet shorter to the roof.

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