New York, USA

Designed by SHoP Architects and developed by JDS Development, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners, the 60-unit Midtown skyscraper stands measuring 1428-feet-tall as the world’s most slender structure with a height-to-width ratio of 24:1.

Located in the heart of midtown on 57th street, this residential tower is quintessentially New York. The design aims to bring back the quality, materiality and proportions of historic NYC towers, while taking advantage of the latest technology to push the limits of engineering and fabrication.

The tower design accentuates its setbacks along 57th Street with a series of elegant, feathered steps that delicately taper the south façade as it reaches skyward. Each step corresponds with a layer of terra-cotta pilasters cladding the east and west façades.

At its base the tower is nestled into a courtyard wrapped by the existing landmarked Steinway Hall, originally designed by Warren & Wetmore, the famed architects behind New York landmarks such as Grand Central Station.

Jan Hird Pokorny Associates restored the Steinway Building and Studio Sofield reworked the interiors.

The tower’s intricate façade is designed to be viewed from multiple scales and vantage points: Terra-cotta panels with 22 different sets of contours create a sweeping play of shadow and light from the city scale, while their glazed finish contrasts with decorative bronze filigree to provide extraordinary richness from up close.

Inlaid horizontal and vertical bronze mullions accentuate the glass curtain wall with over-sized floor-to-ceiling panels. With only one residence per floor, the design of each of the tower’s 46 full floor and duplex residences maximize the astounding park and skyline views.

WSP served as the structural engineer for the slender 91-story tower. The tower incorporates the highest strength concrete in the world at 14,000 psi, paired with over 5.5 million feet of rebar. An efficient structural core provides the broadest floor plates possible, with over 14 feet in ceiling height.

A large mechanical penthouse houses an 800-ton tuned mass damper to minimize the movement and vibrations of the tower, atop which rests a majestic and awe-inspiring crown by SHoP that will be clad in terra-cotta and bronze.

The interior spaces of the tower are designed by Studio Sofield, and the new images show that a soft and pastel toned colors will dominate the interior spaces.

“Drawing inspiration from New York’s finest apartments, the apartment interiors in concert with Steinway Hall’s public spaces by Studio Sofield present contextual design that is characterized by a thoughtful approach to functionality and strength of composition,” said Bill Sofield.

“The complex shapes, patterns and materiality of Studio Sofields’ designs reflect the distinctive profile of the tower while collaborative works by local artists preserve and expand the historical importance of Steinway Hall.”

The tower rises adjacent to the historic Steinway Hall, originally designed by Warren & Wetmore, the famed architects behind New York landmarks such as Grand Central Station.

The façade and historic rotunda are currently being restored in collaboration with the Landmarks Preservation Commission of New York. The cultural landmark includes a limited selection of residences, retail, and amenity spaces and will be integrated and connected to the new tower via the central lobby reimagined by Studio Sofield.

In addition, the first completed residence has been unveiled on the 43rd floor with interior architecture and décor. The extraordinary full-floor residence spans the full width of the tower, offering a grand living space over 50’ in width and unparalleled views of Central Park to the north and the city skyline in all directions.

“111 West 57th Street is a project of extraordinary proportions and epic grandeur in the scale of the tower, ascending elegantly next to a cherished landmarked pre-war structure,” said Gregg Pasquarelli, Principal at SHoP Architects.

“Any preconceived notions that our team had about skyscrapers or New York City developments were replaced with an opportunity to do something that had never been done before. As New Yorkers, we are incredibly proud to add a new icon to our skyline.”

Architects: SHoP Architects
Interior Architects: Studio Sofield
Restoration Architects: Jan Hird Pokorny Associates
Developers: JDS Development, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners
Images: Evan Joseph and Peter Murdock