The first comprehensive office building on Park Avenue in fifty years was designed by Foster + Partners, who were chosen after a major international competition that included well-known architects including Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, and Richard Rogers. The new tower at 425 Park Avenue is expected to be a long-lasting, adaptable addition to one of New York City's most famous streets. It will be located next to Modernist masterpieces designed by architects such as Philip Johnson, Eero Saarinen, and Mies van der Rohe. Aiming for LEED Gold Status, the office tower will rise 209 meters to stake its claim to the New York skyline.
"Clearly expressing the geometry of its structure, the tapered steel-frame tower rises to meet three shear walls that will be illuminated, adding to the vibrant New York City skyline. Its elegant facade seamlessly integrates with an innovative internal arrangement that allows for three graduated tiers of column-free floors. Offering world-class, sustainable office accommodation, the new building anticipates changing needs in the workplace with large, flexible open floor plates. Each of the three tiers—low, medium, and high-rise—is defined by a landscaped terrace with panoramic views across Manhattan and Central Park. To maximize the Park Avenue frontage, the core is placed to the rear, where glazed stairwells reveal long views towards the East River, while at street level, there is potential for a large civic plaza with significant works of art,” Norman Foster commented.
The tower's shape is a perfect representation of its purpose. Three separate volumes make up the building's vertical division: a seven-story base that is interlaced with the urban fabric at street level; a recessed middle part; and a thin column of high-end offices at the top. Through a thorough study process that included modeling site views of Central Park and determining the best area distribution to create a balanced composition, these proportions were determined. The first setback, which is typical of New York high-rise architecture, aligns with the street's datum.
The concept is further developed in the second setback, which literally and figuratively distinguishes the top levels from the other office towers in the city. With glazed stairwells bringing vitality to the eastern elevation and revealing extensive vistas towards the East River, the core is positioned to the back to maximize the Park Avenue frontage. The construction is clearly expressed by the tapered steel-frame tower, which rises to meet three shear walls. These three blades that protrude from the summit of the tower will serve as a stylish skyline landmark.
Intersecting the workplace floors between each volume are striking triple-height sky gardens. With bars, cafes, and conference and meeting spaces, the 42-foot-high levels serve as urban squares in a vertical city and offer the coveted amenity of open space in the center of Manhattan. They will also make a stunning backdrop for grand events. A modest belt of windows provides wind protection, while a horizontal grid of louvers defines the gardens. In order to highlight the enclosure's enormous size, the diagonal columns that surround the rectilinear spaces then reveal the structure. At street level, the tower's social orientation continues with a stunning triple-height atrium and a spacious public plaza that may eventually host large-scale artwork.
Project Information
Architect: Foster + Partners
Location: New York, USA
Client: L&L Holding Company
Collaborating Architect: Adamson Associates
Structural Engineer: Cantor Seinuk WSP
M&E Engineer: Flack + Kurtz WSP
Lighting Engineer: Susan Tillotson
Photographs: Foster + Partners
