A vast chasm of under-utilized land lies along Atlantic Avenue, east of the recently renamed Pacific Park, and is zoned for low-rent industrial and commercial uses. But just to the east of the no man’s land,…
This past September saw concrete reach the rooftop of Extell‘s record-setting Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street, and shortly thereafter One Vanderbilt‘s spire quickly come together at the top of SL Green‘s new commercial jewel. October has also commenced with a bang, and last week, workers installed the first steel for the crowning level of SHoP Architects‘ 111 West 57th Street, reaching the parapet 1,428 feet above the streets below. That makes the building the second-tallest in New York City by its parapet, ranking below the 1,550-foot Central Park Tower, and above the 1,396-foot 432 Park Avenue. Work has indeed reached the last section of the crown, but is important to note that the supertall has not officially topped out yet.
Amidst the ongoing evolution of the Manhattan skyline, one of the most notable recent changes has been the completion of the Midtown East rezoning, which has already resulted in the rise of One Vanderbilt. Now, with 270 Park Avenue and other projects already on the development boards, Vornado and Rudin Management’s plans for 350 Park Avenue have been fully revealed, depicting yet another supertall that would rise almost 1,500 feet to its pinnacle. While the architect has not been confirmed, YIMBY is strongly suspicious that the design is by Foster + Partners, the firm responsible for the nearly-complete 425 Park Avenue.
Skyline-defining towers have proliferated across the Midtown and Lower Manhattan skylines since the start of the 2010s, with the new World Trade Center joined by clusters in Hudson Yards, and 57th Street. Now, as One Vanderbilt approaches the 1,000-foot mark, a new race is appearing on the horizon in Midtown East. First, JPMorgan announced plans for a 1,400-foot-plus behemoth at 270 Park Avenue. Today, renderings have been released for Harry Macklowe’s planned office tower at 5 East 51st Street, which the developer has dubbed “Tower Fifth”. The supertall would become the tallest building in New York City by roof height upon completion, soaring 1,556 feet and six inches above the streets down below.
The blocks of Hudson Yards are the current hotspot for office construction in New York City, with supertall after supertall rising from nothing. But Midtown East might be the only location in Manhattan where major office projects are rising alongside existing fabric. While One Vanderbilt is only beginning to rise above 42nd Street, work is substantially further along at 425 Park Avenue, where Norman Foster’s vision is now climbing past the stump remaining from the site’s former occupant.