Foundation work is underway at 403 East 79th Street, the site of a 30-story medical office building in the Yorkville section of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by Perkins Eastman and developed by Extell Development Company, the structure will yield 400,000 square feet of Class A offices and retail space on the ground floor and cellar levels. The Hospital for Special Surgery has signed on as the anchor tenant and will occupy 200,000 square feet across the first eight stories. Ancora Engineering is the engineer of record and Lendlease is the general contractor for the property, which is alternatively addressed as 1522 First Avenue and located between East 79th and East 80th Streets.
Excavation was just getting started at the time of our last update in July 2022. Since then, crews have largely finished unearthing the plot and have shifted to the formation of the reinforced concrete foundations. Recent photos show the perimeter walls and foundation slab beginning to take shape on the northern end of the site, with wooden formwork supporting the recently poured slab around the center of the plot. Some excavation remains to be finished on the southern edge of the property, but should wrap up in the coming weeks.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
The main rendering shows 403 East 79th Street rising from a multistory podium that incorporates numerous setbacks, and culminating in a rectangular tower capped with a flat parapet. The façade will be composed of white paneling framing floor-to-ceiling glass in two- to three-story groups, and the crown features dark metal grilles surrounding the mechanical levels. Though not depicted, the lower setbacks could likely house terrace space for tenants.
The Hospital for Special Surgery’s facility will feature offices and treatment rooms for musculoskeletal conditions, and will be fitted with enhanced ventilation and filtration systems. The programming also includes space for the offices of the Department of Health, as well as room for ambulatory care and surgical facilities. The nearest subway is the Q train at the 86th Street station, located at the corner of East 83rd Street and Second Avenue.
A completion date for 403 East 79th Street is posted on the construction board for the fourth quarter of 2024.
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a behemoth right up against the historic Church
Extell couldn’t give a hoot.
also notice how the historic Church is nowhere to be seen in the deceiving rendering.
Great development! I really love how it accentuates and respects St. Monica’s next door. I can’t wait until they finish this after living with that hole for years, getting rid of those ugly six-story walkups which are both energy inefficient and lack accessibility.
Indeed Cheesmaster200, I’m glad the block is being transformed with a building that will help the public and having improved standards of quality for the workers and patients.
Huh? It completely blocks the side and all the windows of the church.
I mean, weren’t the windows covered up before by the six story walk up, and didn’t the church get money out of this deal?
That said I love the design. It’s just the right amount of glass. So glad we are moving past the glass box look.
Despite the aesthetics being similar, at least it’s not unobtainably expensive luxury condos this time.
Good Morning….I just want to say this building looks amazing.I would like opportunity to see it in person with my family.
Developers will be developers sadly.
On a side note: its interesting to see the earth in its 30′ deep layer below our sidewalks.
Well, it does seem contextual at least, utterly devoid of any interesting architectural elements, just likes its two brick neighbors in the picture.
I always wonder whenever a massive tower is constructed next to a historic building, ie. this church, does the excavation of a new foundation/pile driving, etc. COMPROMISE the structural integrity of that building?! 🤔
Is the new development liable for structural cracks, fallen bricks or plaster?