Demolition continues at 12 West 57th Street, the site of a proposed 52-story, 672-foot-tall residential skyscraper in Midtown, Manhattan. Designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill and developed by Sheldon Solow of Solow Management Corp., who filed permits for the ground-up project in 2019, the tower will rise along Billionaires’ Row between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and West 56th and 57th Streets. The tower will rise on an assemblage formerly occupied by multiple low- and mid-rise buildings between 10 and 20 West 57th Street.
Recent photographs show the last two structures directly neighboring the Crown Building at 730 Fifth Avenue wrapped in scaffolding and construction netting as crews work to raze them to street level. Progress has been gradual, with only a handful of floors demolished since our last update in May 2023. However, it’s possible that the remaining work could be completed before the end of the year. The cleared parcels to the west have been leveled and are functioning as a staging area for the demolition.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Renderings of the exterior depict a monolithic massing with a dark glass façade. A mid-rise annex is offset from the base of the skyscraper and clad in contrasting white paneling. The main residential entrance will be located along West 57th Street next to a small pond and sculpture, and a two-story retail space will sit directly to the west. It’s unclear whether SOM’s designs have changed over the several years since these images were released.
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
The image below shows the rear southern elevation of the property along West 56th Street with several landscaped setbacks and a smaller frontage.
Rendering of 12 West 57th Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
A construction and completion date for 12 West 57th Street has yet to be finalized.
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It’s a damn shame what was torn down for this crap.
Totally agree. Solow towers ate all the same garbage rooted in the 70s. They are realized versions of the buildings I sketched when I was 11.
Did SOM find an old design from 1962 in a desk drawer and decide to go with it? Apparently, they did inflict enough damage on the city with this stuff the first time around.
… they did not inflict…
I’ve said it before…..but, architecturally, I thought the 1980s were over. 🙁
I love the comments. SOM must have found these drab old plans in a musky drawer somewhere. The days of Bruce Graham are long gone. Let’s hope the financing falls through.
20 years ago I lived in the Solow apt building at 523 East 72nd Street. They also have an office in that building. One day I had a conversation with one of their managers. I asked him how come all their buildings look the same. He said, for each building they design, they will purchase the components to build several of them. He said they store these building components in large warehouses in New Jersey. I thought he was joking. However, considering the crazy inflation associated with construction, it makes sense.
Solow has always liked those black monoliths
Enough already. Hasn’t there been enough black glass facade deadening of 57th already? You could just vomit.
Oh god, no. Please. No.
Let’s reclad the Empire State building with copper panels and box out the windows in black steel with LED lights in the slot between them. NYC is not longer NYC.
I agree w the others comments-way out of style. In my small home city of Roanoke, Virginia,they built a black glass white marble tower for a bank in 1974.I suppose Roanoke should be flattered by the emulation. Chicago suffers from way too many of these “Meisen Modern” buildings including the oh-so-ugly Sears, now Willis, Tower. New York, actually Manhattan, deservedly used to be noted for its’ limestone and terracotta cladded fantasies; Neo gothic, neoclassical, Art Deco, Art Moderne, not watered down or cheaply constructed, structures as seen here which would serve well as additions off the the side or rear of something more notable. SMH.
There is not one favorable remark about this building. I wish that the panel of folks that approve these uninspired, drab and ugly buildings were at least somewhat interested in design. Most of the world is building more architecturally inspired and visually pleasing buildings/skyscrapers. We, the public must look at these monstrosities. Also, the newest buildings are attracting more companies and workers.
Uggghhhh. Is there a red, burning eye going to be fitted at top as well? This building is such 60s rethrougly. Ugghhh
Demolish it and build a new one, is the cycle of real estate development. But the glass is too dark!! Thanks.
My uncle, Jack Milgrim, owned a very high end woman’s clothing store ‘Milgrim’s’, years ago on that stretch of 57th street..anyone remember?