Curtain wall installation is slowly progressing on 450 Eleventh Avenue, a 51-story hotel skyscraper in Hudson Yards. Designed by DSM Design Group and developed by Marx Development Group, the 642-foot-tall structure will yield 379 guest rooms, a business center, a ballroom, and a fourth-floor restaurant with a bar and an outdoor terrace. Atria Builders is the general contractor for the Midtown, Manhattan property, which is located at the corner of West 37th Street and Eleventh Avenue, directly across from the Jacob K. Javits Center.
Window installation was just starting up at the time of our last update in May 2022, when the first panels were in the process of being hung on the first story above the podium. Not much has changed since then. An additional level two floors above also received a portion of its envelope between the same set of perimeter columns, and additional glass has been installed at the bottom of the western elevation.
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
The yellow safety cocoon also remains at the top of the reinforced concrete superstructure, a further indication of the project’s lack of progress. The northern and western elevations will eventually feature a dynamic, multifaceted glass envelope, while the southern and eastern sides will likely be left blank.
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
450 11th Avenue. Photo by Michael Young
According to the New York Times, the delays stem from the project’s lack of an authentic seal of approval from a registered and practicing architect, as required in New York State. The developer sought to gain credentials from former DSM Design Group architect Warren L. Schiffman, who retired in 2016 before 450 Eleventh Avenue’s construction was approved. Schiffman allegedly signed a contract that lent his unauthorized seal and signature for the hotel and two other projects in Queens in exchange for quarterly payments issued annually until 2027. It was also revealed that Schiffman, who additionally didn’t review any plans for the hotel, also didn’t complete the 36-hour course applicants must partake in to renew architecture licenses, which are only valid for up to three years, after his retirement. Marx Development Group eventually notified the Department of Buildings (DOB) about the replacement for Schiffman with a licensed professional to take over his role. The DOB also previously reviewed the structural integrity of the unfinished Midtown hotel and said it found no defects in the construction.
It’s unclear as of this point when 450 Eleventh Avenue will be completed, but sometime in 2024 is possible if activity picks up this year.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
No drawbacks in the construction eventually structure of the tower connects, though at a greater distance I can see the state of being without facade. These photos are facing an expected completion shortfall in activity, but take over the project is an act indicating of finished look in the future: Thanks to Michael Young.
Yikes and this building topped out in Nov 2021…
Excellent photographs of an unfortunate debacle plaguing the site. Let us hope this one gets finished quickly because it looks so ugly without the glass. And they should paint the back sides of the building so it’s less ugly when you see it from the Hudson Yards mall
Building in NY 101… You don’t spend unneccesary money dolling up lot line surfaces when they are just going to be obscured by future developments.
Are new developments really going to cover the entirety of these facades? How long will they take to cover the 2 sides of this building that are just bare concrete? Genuinely curious
Unknown, but considering the flanking lots are zoned similarly there’s not much reason to believe towers just as tall will abut the blank walls and obscure them completely or mostly. Who knows hoe long it will take but I’d wager likely 5 years depending on the health of the market. Is it that big a deal? Isn’t there much bigger fish to fry than handwringing over how long an unpleasant temporary view will last?
Yawn…🥱
Another glass tower addition for
“Dubai on the Hudson”…
coming soon “Hotel Generica”!
This multi-billion dollar “Notice me, No notice me first” line-up of towers feels very cold, impersonal and lacks any signs of real street life compared to the rest of the city.
It’s like some futuristic utopia where thousands of drones file into buildings all programmed for computer work… BORING!
I will make a visit on my next trip to NYC, to see what all the hype is about, but will spend more time in rest of the city with LIFE! 🤔
The blank side of this building facing Hudson Yards, makes it eligible for ugliest new facade award.
You do realize that it was intentionally done because it would eventually be covered up by buildings going up around it right? That’s why there are no windows on those sides
Just be pedantic by definition the façade faces the street. Those blank walls are there because the adjoining lots will see future towers that will cover the blank walls.
And Mathew… It’s stunning how many people don’t understand this… It’s kind of disturbing. I knew this post was bound to have one like they always do.
Most likely not in your lifetime
What is this supposed to mean exactly?
I guess he expects the commercial lumber yard on the next lot to hold out and the site won’t be developed for decades.
NFA, I totally agree, and no matter how many times Yimby, you and me try to explain this extremely simple design aspect to the public, it seems to never gets through…
A lot of ‘blank’
I like this building, despite the boring base. I really like the original proposal more, but money. The mostly very sober buildings of Hudson Yards needs a little mirth like this hotel provides.
And to those complaining about blank walls, you also complain when windows on lot line walls get covered up by new projects built up to the lot line. Deal with it.
And it’s not like it’s their windows or their apartments that are losing the views per se. it’s unfortunately just a matter of time before something will go up and block any lot line windows. That’s the trade off when living in the most dense city in America that people should know
How in the world do you start a project this big and not do the paperwork? Mind boggling…
What’s more surprising is how far they got into construction before suspicions were raised
Just one more reason to avoid Hudson Yards. It’s taste for the tasteless.
elevator wait time for the rooms up at the top……has to be endless?!
and if you’re staying in the lower portion, the elevators will always be crowded when they
are going down!
This is a disaster – NO PROGRESS in almost two years. Why not just tear the whole thing down at this point? At least paint the back of it a dark color, because there is no reason to expect anything is going up to cover the back of it any time soon.
There IS progress on the facade, regardless of how few panels were installed. Yes it’s a huge shame this is taking forever, but why the f u c k are you completely turning a blind eye to the fact that there was work done, albeit in a small but quantifiable amount?
Ex: If there were a total of 100 panels already installed at the end of 2022, and they put up 10 more, that means there are now 110 panels in place. Are you telling me you’re not going to account for the extra 10 percent? Is that too small to quantify and justify as “progress?”
Your comment fails to gaslight the public and reeks of such impatience and ignorance…
I also just saw the last article on this building from May 2022 in which you clearly stated spotting work being done, but now you do a complete 180 and say there was “NO PROGRESS.”
You can literally see more of the lower floors with more glass since Mr. Young took the last set of photos! Either you’re blind or just choosing to be a total hypocrite…
Stanley, after seeing your response and the reactions, I highly recommend reading Aesop’s story called “The Tortoise and The Hare.” But I can see which animal you clearly take pride being in
Shame on you Stanley!!! Stop spreading fake news and lying about the recent construction that’s clearly seen in the photos!
So Stanley, based on your judgement of how your viewpoint of “progress” can or cant be acknowledged, it’s almost as if you’re saying that 1 + 1 doesn’t equal 2 because 1 is too small number to count and not worth quantifying…
How much construction would it take for work to be accounted then???
Bait and Switch. Originally it was a squiggly modern glass design.