Yesterday, YIMBY attended a special block party at the JPMorgan Tower, the company’s recently opened 1,389-foot-tall headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in Midtown East. Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners and developed by Tishman Speyer, the 60-story supertall skyscraper yields 2.5 million square feet of office space with a capacity of 14,000 employees, and is the tallest structure in New York completely powered by hydroelectric energy. Adamson Associates was the architect of record , AECOM Tishman is the general contractor, and Gensler is the workplace designer for the $3 billion project, which occupies a full city block bounded by East 48th Street to the north, East 47th Street to the south, Park Avenue to the east, and Madison Avenue to the west.
The event was held to recognize the thousands of men and women who worked on the project, from the demolition of the former Union Carbide Building to ongoing closing stages of construction on the current state-of-the-art global headquarters. The expansive eastern plaza and sidewalks along Park Avenue were temporarily closed off for the occasion as a large crowd came to celebrate. Lunch was served for all workers and attendees.
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.
270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
Speeches were given by JPMorganChase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon, and Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, who also spent time at the event personally thanking the workers.
Jamie Dimon at 270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, at 270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
JPMorgan Chase’s new global headquarters will be home to more than 10,000 employees by the end of the year. The project alone created 8,000 construction jobs, spanning 40 local unions and triggering additional economic activity of $2.6 billion for New York City and $3.6 billion for New York State overall. The company is also expected to contribute $29.8 billion annually to the city’s economy and stimulate an additional 40,000 jobs across local industries.
Exterior construction is almost done. The mechanical hoist is continuing its disassembly from the northern elevation facing East 48th Street, with crews quickly filling in the ensuing gap in the façade. The remainder of the work is focused on the landscaped public plaza along Madison Avenue and the revamped entrance to Grand Central Madison.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, crews were spotted working on the two multistory rock walls, and some of the first small plants have been installed between the rock surfaces. It remains to be seen how much of the crevices between the rocks will be filled with shrubbery and how they will grow in the years to come.
270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
270 Park Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
Building systems include sensors, AI, and machine learning for energy optimization, triple-pane glazing with automated shading, and enhanced fresh-air delivery.
Office amenities include a Danny Meyer-catered food hall from Union Square Hospitality Group with 19 diverse food options and seating on the upper floors of the building; a health and wellness center operated by Exos with yoga and cycling rooms, physical therapy, medical services, mother’s rooms, prayer rooms, and meditation spaces; a coffee-tracking system allowing for desk-side deliveries; and a JPMorgan Chase workplace app for services and wayfinding.
An official ribbon cutting for 270 Park Avenue will be held sometime this fall.
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Is this built by union workers or is this their pizza party?
Nevertheless a beautiful building, except for the tacky rock walls…
Flo, why can’t it be both?..your comment makes no sense.
I love seeing so many craft union people feeling the love for there hard back breaking work – it’s not AI! That built that building!
This is a beautiful building, and the workers should be proud and honored. Well done! I’m glad that the JP Morgan brass threw a little party for them.
I wouldn’t call it a little party LOL, but it was well-deserved!
Very nice. Congratulations to all!
The fake rock walls look terrible. The steel is so much more impressive.
The exposed “steel” is fake too.
Construction workers here did a beautiful job and should be very proud. But reading recently how JP Morgan Chase helped facilitate Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘career’ takes a bit of the luster off this grand achievement.
Building is amazing, but can anyone explain why there would be this strange rock wall that looks like right out off the set of Jurassic Park?
is this supposed to be some juxtaposition between the steel and what looks like fake rock? Grounding the building as it sits on its limestone foundation?
My wife used to work for Chase at this site 11 years ago. Now she works for another bank at 2 Vanderbilt. 2 beautiful building
Recognition of building trades much appreciated
People need to go back and look at the original renderings that show that the rock wall be the foundation for a leafy green living wall. I’m no gardener (despite my handle), so I have no idea how feasible this is, but hopefully in the years to come it’s covered in green.
It will be interesting to see how the rock wall ages, vegetation wise. In Florida it flourishes, but in the NYC weather, not sure.
Agree, it will be especially interesting given the fact that it’s completed shaded by the building itself. Fingers crossed.
Very nice. I had to sell my house after getting very sick after sep 11, 2001
They should penalize Chase for the destruction of Union Carbide, a perfectly usable LEED Platinum building, historic, and one of the few buildings designed by a woman.
Thankfully we still live in a free country where an individual or corporation can own property. It’s really the foundation of capitalism if you think about it.
Beautiful building. Would be nice if retirees could get a tour. I retired from JPMORGAN in 1998. A GREAT place to have had a career..
BRAVO!!!
Excellent design with latest technology!
Congratulations to all involved in such beautiful project.
Beautiful tower God bless the tower and I am proud be part the chase bank
It’s oddly retro looking. I’m not a fan.
I have dozens of pictures I’ve taken over the entire construction process. Love that building (not sure about that rock wall yet, but…). Finally a new structure worthy of New York and Park Avenue. Congratulations to all who worked on it and to Jamie for having a party.
Was visiting during the US Open…walked by it and the only word I could think of was “monster”..that building is a frickin monster.
Well, it is impressive, but it’s a building Darth Vader could love..