Renderings have been revealed for The Torch, a 1,067-foot mixed-use supertall skyscraper at 740 Eighth Avenue in Midtown, Manhattan. Designed by ODA with SLCE Architects as the architect of record and developed by Extell, the 52-story structure will span 875,372 square feet and yield an 825-room hotel on the lower half and a public outdoor observation deck with a drop ride attraction above. The property will also feature lower-level retail space, a restaurant on two of the upper floors, a VIP lounge, and a pool deck for hotel guests. Lendlease is the general contractor, WSP is the structural engineer, and Ancora Engineering is handling excavation and foundations for the project, which is located along Eighth Avenue between West 45th and 46th Streets on the border of Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen.
The first rendering showcases the skyscraper’s position among the Midtown skyline from across the Hudson River, emphasizing its prominence among the surrounding structures. The other new images focus on the 500-foot-tall stem-like section of the tower, which features a spiraling geometry that widens as it rises and is interspersed with cutouts adorned with lush greenery. Like the rest of the structure below, the façade is composed of pleated reflective glass. Spotlights will further accentuate the top levels and crown, which was designed to evoke the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
The following aerial renderings preview the views that the observatory will provide of the skyline, including vistas of Billionaires’ Row, Lower Manhattan, and the surrounding landmarks in Midtown.
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Close-ups of the observatory detail the glass-enclosed staircases and the protruding glass-floor boxes, as well as the Intamin-designed drop ride, which features 300-foot-tall transparent tubes that riders will traverse over a 90-second experience.
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Rendering of The Torch at 740 Eighth Avenue by ODA and SLCE Architects. Photo by Michael Young
Foundation work has steadily progressed since our last update at the end of December, when excavation was still finishing up. Recent photos show the slab and most of the perimeter walls formed, with bundles of rebar protruding at the locations of the forthcoming core and interior columns. YIMBY predicts 740 Eighth Avenue will reach street level around the end of spring or early summer.
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
Photo by Michael Young
740 Eighth Avenue’s anticipated completion date is posted on site for the second quarter of 2027.
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Dreadful.
Disgusting, poor Abu Dhabi on Hudson never to be…
Sad they weren’t able to incorporate a new Broadway Theater for the Shubert Organization into this development…
I prefer this future bird killing machine better in its current state, as a hole in the ground.
Thank you!!
I guess it could be more alienating. But it’s hard to see how.
Definitely going to make a impression and has a unique shape. Love it.
Glad we are on the same page
The tourists will love it. Let’s send it to Kansas.
or Tulsa.
Back in the early 1970s, I took a tour of the then recently-built theaters led by their architects. The strict city safety regulations were explained. The architect of the Minskoff Theatre mentioned that the required provisions made for a theater were so onerous that it was probably a mistake to have built it. This explains why so few have been built of late.
Well, at least they have a theme for this project (I really want to say monstrosity). We have Lady Liberty, do we really need another torch? We have so many modern experience based observation decks, do we need another?
I don’t really get to decide, but aren’t we being spoiled kids in the Willy Wonka factory shouting, “more mommy.”?
I mean that area sucks and if the city won’t do the right thing and actually upzone it for housing and the state do the right thing by passing some sort of update 421a then I’ll take it, better than some boring McSam hotel. I’m sure the FDNY loves it.
Agreed
Truly truly bizarre.
I don’t understand how anyone could even dream up something so aesthetically disturbing.
THANK YOU!!!
This will be an ongoing aesthetic slap in the face. What a horrific building.
THANK YOU!!!
Twenty-five years ago a friend owned a perpetually vacant rental house in Vegas a mile or two from the Stratosphere tower and its outdoor drop ride. The periodic screams of ride-goers punctuated the relative calm of the surrounding neighborhood at regular intervals. I shuddered to validate this sort of auditory and visual circus in midtown Manhattan, and am relieved to discover it will apparently be enclosed within “300-foot-long glass tubes.” And the latest renderings highlight a glass-intensive look considerably more captivating than the seeming abomination appearing in the original drawings.
“the views that the observatory will provide of the skyline, including vistas of Billionaires’ Row” …is that actually an attraction?!
This building looks more like a carnival ride type fad than a serious skyscraper for a serious city. The capital of the world! However, once built I think will grow on all of us and turn into something that will be uniquely New York City! The original twin towers World Trade Center comes to mind as when it was first built and completed I read that the residents really did not care for it but came around to love it. My dos centavos.
I dub the, Vessel II… Atop a skyscraper with higher glass walls so no jumpers. Too soon?
I can’t believe they are building this.
It really is hard to believe.
“.. he say you Blade Runner”
This may be the most awkwardly massed, hideous skyscraper in the world, only fitting that outside of Chicago it’s being built in New York… This will be loathed by New Yorkers more than Hudson Yards which is seen as nothing but a tall, architecturally devoid, postmodern blue-glass blob on the West Side devoid of character, soul or an actual neighborhood.
One thing it will have is endless screams from the drop ride reminding us all of the monstrosity towering above dystopic times square.
Speak for yourself, I (and many others in NYC) love Hudson Yards. The point at which it was devoid of character, soul and an actual neighborhood was when it was nothing but a hole in the skyline caused by a rail yard that spanned several city blocks. Today the hole is filled with life as people enjoy amazing food, shopping, and views of the Hudson River.
Lol ok bot. The retail is absolutely failing the mall is empty and the residential are having horrible sales which is why they’re trying to phase in more office for phase two.. and most people don’t live there, there’s no neighborhood there’s no attractions there’s no bars there’s no restaurants.. its essentially a blue box blob. Stop lying
Have you been there Jimbo? I used to work there. Agree it’s soulless but it’s teeming with restaurants and bars.
My wife niece and now a few other people we know live in the Hudson Yards neighborhood and love it there. That’s what matters most. I don’t get all of the ongoing hate.
This will certainly claim the title of New York’s Most Tacky, Gaudy Building. Hopefully the plans get revised before this monstrosity is built.
The foundation is underway they arent touching the plans this is what we get lol
Its trash, looks like something for Dubai or Vegas
Gaudy casinos? Stupid upside down space needles with thrill rides? We are selling out. The city is becoming a greedy moneygrab goofball carnival what actual value does any of this bring to our image, to our city, and to our residents? None. Cheap, tacky, and pointless attempt to take peoples money. It’s truly sad.
All this for a “90-second experience.”
I literally just checked the date. I thought this had to be an April Fool’s Day joke.
Are 12 year boys now designing our supertalls?
Unlike the Eiffel Tower or Space Needle, this will forever be a hideous stain on our skyline.
It’s unbelievably terrible the crap Extell keeps forcing on us just for their greed. It’s truly dumbfounding.
Love it! Finally, something interesting.
So much crying here. Historically, some of the most hated constructions became iconic, this may follow pattern. People seem to forget that NYC was founded for economic and business purposes due to its strategic location. Lighten up and go grab a latte or something.
No.
BEYOND HIDEOUS! I’m all for the supertall skyscrapers – but this is a joke. There is such a thing as bad architecture.
This must be stopped
Terrible design to blight the skyline. Massing, proportions, scale…fail. I have no objections to super-talls and provocative design, but this is heinous and tacky.
Why are the renderings “Photo by Michael Young” are they paying this site?
Is this real? It looks beautiful, but very unreal
The foundation is currently under construction. What is shown here are new renderings. Prior to this, we only had a drawing.
It is MAGNIFICENT, if it really is going to look like that futuristic crystal structure. But is it real??
The dumbest, ugliest POS that I have seen dreamt up by an architect! Just awful!
I love that hour glass shape to the top of the glass structure and this will be a cool new addition to midtown!
UM WILL DEFINITELY B A SENSATION,A CONVERSATION PIECE FAR BEYOND N.Y.& WHATS SO BAD ABOUT THAT?!
As someone who builds in the city this looks like a challenging project.
Why do I have to think like everyone else? New York City is ready for the future: Thanks to Michael Young.
Yup, just as ugly here as it was in the massing diagrams.
Some renderings almost sell it, but they are hiding half the building with a cloud or cropping. The overall building together is a mess, no proportion at all. Tacky and gimmicky.
The porno theaters that used to grace this site looked less hideous than this…
They should put a porno theater at the top of this.. two birds one stone
BLADERUNNER 2: NEW YORK…
The only NICE thing about this hideous POS on the skyline will be the views of other buildings from INSIDE of it! 🤔🤮
The race for the next Iconic building will create a lot of disaster sore eyes..
This will do to the New York skyline what the Walkie Talkie did to London.
Everyone sees that it’s a joystick, right? Like right out of an 80’s arcade. I can’t.
j’attendrais depuis la France pour mon troisième voyage a New York que THE TORCH soit fini
Considering how many comments it stirred up,both for and against it. I Hope they build it.
When we get an ice storm this building will clear the neighborhood like a five alarm fire shedding shards to those below. That could be the legacy of its novel design.
A beautiful masterwork of architectural art, one innovation that will now set the style for the future NYC buildings to come. A Challenge all future new building designers yet, make others strive for innovative brilliance. It makes all other buildings look prosaic, artless and mundane. This new design will set a universal standard for all of workplaces of modern architecture. And bring new world class brilliance to Manhattan. And as world class city to follow.
Thank you for a balanced report. Don’t let the design fool you. That’s not the ugly you’re seeing. It’s a hotel for tourist. It’s not needed affordable housing. It doesn’t address the impact on the neighborhood’s infrastructure. It has closed nearby not for profits and small businesses. This building is not for New Yorkers.
French ppl barked at Eifel Tower construction plans before it was built, saying it’d be too ugly and cold
Abu Dhabi on Hudson, thank you Governor Hochul, your hubby realtor and construction fund friends and donors will be happy… For New York we will never forget you for stuff we got from You, including migrants and their crimes…
World class will avoid NYC at all cost after learning what’s raised migrant crimes did with city!!! City became really rat hole with Abu Dhabi to became unrealistic dreams and real Migrant nightmare…
Yuck 🤢
Looks awesome