Plans for 343 Madison Avenue in Midtown East unveil the substantial size and scope of the supertall to take the place of the former Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) headquarters. Boston Properties is developing the project that would comprise 925,630 square feet and rise 1,050 feet tall, with Class A office space above ground-floor retail. The building would yield 5,357 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, 832,613 square feet of commercial office space above, and 84,593 square feet of dedicated mechanical space. The tower would sit on a podium 301 feet tall.
Schematics in the YIMBY Forum show how the proposed superstructure will impact the New York City skyline.
343 Madison Avenue. Illustration by Mtoltethys
The project site, known as located at 341-347 Madison Avenue, has approximately 200 feet of frontage along Madison Avenue and 125 feet of frontage along both East 44th and 45th Streets. It sits in a predominantly commercial area surrounded by high-rise office buildings, retail and hotels due to its proximity to Grand Central Terminal. According to the drafted Environmental Impact Statement, the building would also offer pedestrian access to Grand Central Terminal and the LIRR East Side Access concourse, currently in the works. It would also include a 3,067-square-foot easement for the East Side Access.
Midtown East Rezoning, image by The Wall Street Journal
343 Madison Avenue is expected to be completed by 2026, with excavation work beginning in 2022. Demolition would take place from October 2020 to November 2021.
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Ok..but why is the top half of the Chrysler Building missing in the Yimby Forum illustration?..just wondering 🙂
A monolith of the worst kind and a potential source of high winds at ground level.
Is there strong demand for commercial office space given Corona? As long as there are no tax breaks it is just a gamble.
@Mark I think it’s just a massing diagram, not an actual rendering.
There are competing pandemic issues. People are working from home instead of in offices but people in offices need to be more spread out. How it’s all going to shake out, especially after there is some kind of vaccine and better treatments. While there may be a rebound of people working back in offices rather than at home, the open office layout is probably dead and cubicles will need to be adequately spaced if COVID-19 is a regular thing we face like the flu.
The economy will be back to normal by the opening date and interest rates are basically zero right now, so it’s the best time to build.
Corona is not forever, though it may seem like it. And I, for one, will NOT let it be my “new normal”. Never.
Hmmm…
A 1,050 ft (320 m) tall office skyscraper in Midtown East. Estimated completion date of 2026.
I’m not sure I’m supportive of this plan. I think the scope of this project will most certainly change throughout the years. A good design for this one would also do good. So, this is a good plan, but changes are kinda needed. Maybe the end result won’t be all that bad. We will just have to wait probably more than a half decade. ?
Super tall at 1050? that seems a low bar.
Without a real design this is doomed; hopefully something will be proposed that warrants the loss of the doorway at 341, one of the most handsome in the city: a rich black marble covered with gilt bronze Neo-classical ornament. Yes that doorcase is a beauty.
So true! Amazing to see this detail mentioned. I have been impressed by the door case at 341 Madison Avenue since I was a child being brought to Brooks Brothers to be kitted out for school clothes. The black marble and gilded bronze of that entry just struck me as the most noble and sophisticated architectural ornament imaginable. The experience of ‘Terminal City,’ the ensemble of related brick and limestone buildings with stylistic references to ancient Roman architecture, was something marvelous, and conveyed, and hopefully imbued, strength and dignity, without the connotation of aggression or avarice. The loss of this neighborhood is one of the most shocking failures of the Landmarks Commission, and will be viewed historically as catastrophic negligence, equivalent to the loss of Pennsylvania Station.
I love dreamers especially during this epidemic… it also gives me something to look forward to.. what ever it ends up being it does not matter… it is the dream that counts.
Not for me. Proposals mean little. Actual buildings constructed do.
Everyone is working from home if you call that work.
Only a friend would lend to get that built right now. Most shops
are closed on Madison Avenue. So why do it? Developers are already delaying finishing projects right now which as selling at 65% on the dollar.
Working at home does not work for everyone. Not by a long shot. There are a lot of negatives of telecommuting – especially when forced on everyone, all af once. Lots of unforeseen problems. For most jobs, the synergy of office in-person interactions is not really possible with Zoom. Most homes do not have proper office furniture and seating for hours of work. And what about office equipment like high speed copiers/scanners or other specialized office equipment which homes dont have. And are way too expensive to buy. Did you know about 45% of telecommuters admit to drinking “on-the-job” while at home? A company may be tempted to ditch their office space, but closer, long-term examination may make that not a good idea.
Well said- One of my friends is working from home and she hates it- she feels like now, there is no clear line between work and home life. Others have expressed frustration with higher power, water, and internet/phone bills, which they’re not getting reimbursed for. Likewise having to carve out a section of their own home as a defacto office. Companies might save money by getting rid of office space, but do you think that the workers will see any of that? Not likely!
Having the option to work at home might be a boon to parents of young children or people with disabilities, but it’s not for everyone.
Should be taller but I welcome another super tall!
Wow, I see that the designers put a lot thought and time into designing this—–nondescript rectangular box with no facade short of simple glas curtain! I am sure they won’t take blame for this on their resumes in the future, and skip it. The question is, are there any “art commission” in this town to prevent travesties like these? I mean being functional is one (good) thing; but that doesnt need to mean repulsive or drab. but then again, the city doesnt care, nor do the developers….
It’s a massing diagram…