Construction and expansion work continues at PENN 2, a 31-story commercial building at Two Penn Plaza in Midtown, Manhattan. Designed by MdeAS Architects and developed by Vornado Realty Trust, the topped-out project involves the replacement of the 412-foot-tall tower’s outdated midcentury façade with a new glass curtain wall and set of light-colored metal paneling, a full gut renovation of its 1.61 million square feet of office space, new pocketed corner terraces, and a multi-story cantilevering volume along Seventh Avenue. GMSLLP is the façade consultant and Turner Construction Company and Skanska are the contractors for the property, which is located between West 31st and West 33rd Streets within the Penn District revitalization master plan.
Recent photographs show the underside of the cantilevering rectangular expansion nearly finished and fully cladded with triangular LED panels. These were previously photographed in our last update back in the spring when they began to be tested for the first time. Crews continue to construct the ground-floor public pedestrian space, which remains mostly obscured behind the wooden boards and metal fencing.
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
Photo by Michael Young
The floor-to-ceiling glass windows for the office floors and white metal paneling for the mechanical levels covers the majority of the outside with only a few sections left to reclad.
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 mechanical hoist remains attached to the slim southern elevation over West 31st Street.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Meanwhile, the dual set of pocketed corner terraces on the western side of the building have most of their glass railings installed and are being fitted out.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Future office amenities at PENN2 will include a 275-person town hall, casual lounges, an outdoor rooftop pavilion, and a new triple-height office lobby relocated along West 33rd Street beside a tree-lined public plaza. The landscaped terraces are set to span over one acre in total, with the largest section located atop the eighth floor of the cantilever. The below renderings depict the modernized interiors and exteriors.
The main lobby Rendering by MdeAS Architects
An office conference room. Rendering by MdeAS Architects
The outdoor terrace atop the western cantilever. Rendering by MdeAS Architects
The outdoor terrace atop the western cantilever. Rendering by MdeAS Architects
A corner loggia. Rendering by DBOX for Vornado Realty Trust.
A loggia. Rendering by DBOX for Vornado Realty Trust.
An outdoor terrace. Rendering by DBOX for Vornado Realty Trust.
An outdoor terrace. Rendering by DBOX for Vornado Realty Trust.
An outdoor al fresco dining area. Rendering by DBOX for Vornado Realty Trust.
PENN 2 is anticipated to be fully complete by the end of 2023.
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Big improvement. Hopefully all the scaffolding in the area will be removed someday to actually see the buildings.
Even though it darkens 32nd St. to the east, this building does not get in the way of changes to Penn Station. The future of MSG is still up in the air (literally). Various ideas have been put forth. My idea is to demolish the main floor of Penn Station and have everything at the LIRR level so all tracks would be accessible from one floor. Currently, this is not the case and is inconvenient for passengers. A single large open area with a higher ceiling would be desirable.
I notice that the cables from the tension ring at the 1964 NYS Pavilion in Flushing Meadows Park are being replaced though they no longer support plastic panels. MSG uses a similar structure system and I wonder if its days are numbered.
White metal paneling for the mechanical levels, strikingly apparent between two different toning. Exterior appeal made me serious interested to look around, conclude that I can’t escape from beautiful white metal paneling with very distinct design: Thanks to Michael Young.
The white paneling on the top and on on a floor below appears to be too bright. Not a subtle balance with the fenestration, if that’s permanent. Still, an improvement overall…
Just hoping
Y 65 and I live with my wife
Another lost opportunity here. The new “porch” looks very tacked on to the tower behind, and the glazing has nothing to do with the annoying new glazing above. The spandrel pattern seems random and pointless. The best part, are the new light colored columns at midlevel and the top. Nothing here says train station or even a main entrance. It’s just more boring, vacant office space.
“boring, vacant..” ???
I don’t think the spandrel pattern is permanent.
More lipstick on the Penn, I meant pig. In NY developer fashion the whole complex should have been demolished.
U-G-L-Y!! Not much an improvement and it already looks dated.
Too bad companies are shedding not renting offices.
The recent healthy leasing rates of the newest buildings suggests otherwise.
Nothing here except more lipstick on a pig!
No need to post my comment. You already did.
Just think…those renderings could have included the beautiful Pennsylvania Station. How much more value to the real estate in the area would that have added. As the demolition of old catholic churches in the NE US continues.
If the Hotel Pennsylvania were still here to see this it would roll over in its grave.