With an address on Fifth Avenue across from the Empire State Building, this 41-story, 395,000-square-foot luxury condominium was conceived as a classic urban skyscraper: a tower that would include many setbacks as it rose above and next to its neighbors, articulated and gleaming with a shimmering glass curtainwall.
Today, it is being recognized as a new landmark on the Manhattan skyline, with a building façade that incorporates three different kinds of glass (opaque, translucent, and transparent) in each apartment from floor to ceiling, which allows people to feel comfortable, even in very high floors.
Special Design Features
As with many Stephen Jacobs projects, the interior organization dictated the form of the building; the requirements of the interiors determined the shape, profile, and materials used in its design and construction.
Voluntary setbacks add interest and 15-foot terraces to wonderfully shaped, dramatic duplex penthouses on the building's five upper levels. The building also houses 250 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. On the second floor, the designers created a 10,000-square-foot series of spaces devoted to all residents, featuring a high-tech screening room, a fitness center, etc.
Of particular note, the lobby features a subtle pattern of flamed impala black granite floors, fabric walls, and a soothing waterfall. A floating wood coffered ceiling unifies the space and incorporates subtle lighting.