Excavation and pilings are underway at 740 Eighth Avenue, the site of a 1,067-foot-tall hotel and observation tower in Midtown, Manhattan. ODA is the design architect, SLCE Architects is the architect of record, and Extell is developing the 52-story supertall skyscraper that will yield 776,000 square feet with an 825-room hotel in the tower base and an upper observatory spanning four floors with a drop ride attraction. The building will also contain retail space, two upper restaurant floors, and a pool deck. The top observatory floor will serve as an exclusive VIP space. Lendlease is listed as the general contractor, WSP is the structural engineer, and Ancora Engineering is handling the excavation and drilling for the foundations of the property, which is located between West 45th and 46th Streets.