Forms are rising at 56 Leonard, which continues its slow but steady progress. As the superstructure continues to rise, the most notable change is actually a reveal, as the associated netting has also continued to climb – the first of the tower’s concrete is now visible. Like 432 Park Avenue, 56 Leonard will have a facade that utilizes exposed concrete, though the contrast between the buildings’ overall aesthetics could not be greater.
It had been rumored that the curing process at 56 Leonard encountered unexpected difficulties, with cold weather from February to April resulting in blotchiness. 432 Park Avenue’s situation, where the streaking is prominent on lower levels, would certainly corroborate the story, as 432 Park and 56 Leonard were both emerging from ground during the same timeframe, which saw several snowstorms. Given the stains on 432 Park Avenue’s facade – which are not present in renderings, and thus probably not a design element – it is certainly possible that 56 Leonard had similar difficulties, which have hampered the tower’s pace.
Luckily, it seems the engineers behind the Herzog & de Meuron-designed skyscraper have resolved the problem at 56 Leonard. Speed is a small sacrifice to make for quality, and the concrete that has been revealed so far looks flawless; once the tower soars its eventual 56 floors, the result will be made more dramatic by the building’s floor to ceiling windows – and the Anish Kapoor sculpture that will nestle into the ground floor.
Now at its sixth level, 56 Leonard has been progressing at a pace of one floor per month. The irregularities of the floorplates are a major contributing factor, but the tower is by far the slowest-rising building in New York City. Comparable developments, like 432 Park, typically ascend at the rate of one floor per week. While the speed may be lacking, perfection of the tower’s aesthetics are well worth the delay.
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