Architecture

City block-sized supertall skyscraper completed in Manhattan

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50 Hudson Yards takes up an entire city block and reaches a height of 308 m (1,011 ft) in Manhattan
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
50 Hudson Yards takes up an entire city block and reaches a height of 308 m (1,011 ft) in Manhattan
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
50 Hudson Yards features a glazed exterior that's enlivened by white stone detailing
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
50 Hudson Yards' lobby spaces are defined by a large feature staircase and artwork by Frank Stella
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
50 Hudson Yards consists of 78 floors, most of which are taken up by 3 million sq ft (roughly 280,000 sq m) of office space
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
50 Hudson Yards is envisioned as three blocks stacked on top of each other and its design is also intended to reference the classic NYC city grid and the other towers throughout Manhattan
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
50 Hudson Yards is part of the larger Hudson Yards mega-development in Manhattan that also includes the Vessel, by Thomas Heatherwick
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
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Following four years of construction, Foster + Partners' massive US$4 billion 50 Hudson Yards is now finally complete. The supertall skyscraper takes up the footprint of an entire city block in Manhattan, New York City, and reaches a height of 308 m (1,011 ft).

50 Hudson Yards was first unveiled back in 2016 and is the latest high-profile skyscraper to join Manhattan's Hudson Yards mega-development, alongside projects like the Vessel and Edge viewing points, as well as the superb Shed.

The chunky skyscraper is envisioned as three rectangular blocks stacked on top of each other, with a glass exterior and white stone detailing. Its design is meant to reference the NYC city grid and complement the surrounding towers throughout Manhattan. Structurally, it consists of over 117,200 cubic yards (roughly 3,164,400 cubic ft/89,605 cubic m) of concrete, over 11,000 glass panels and more than 26,800 tons of structural steel.

Its interior is spread over 78 floors, most of which are taken up by 3 million sq ft (roughly 280,000 sq m) of office space. This is designed to be largely column-free, maximizing floorspace and flexibility inside. Big-name tenants like Facebook's parent company Meta, as well as McDonald's and BlackRock, will each get their own private elevator. Closer to the ground are restaurants and retail space, while its lobby areas are enlivened by a large feature staircase and works of art by renowned American minimalist painter Frank Stella.

50 Hudson Yards' lobby spaces are defined by a large feature staircase and artwork by Frank Stella
Nigel Young/Foster + Partners

"Movement through the building is intuitive and efficient, with dedicated lobbies and private elevators for anchor tenants," explained Foster + Partners. "Visitors enter the tower through the activated street edges and traverse through the building from north to south. The design utilizes conventional, double decker and twin elevators for the first time in a New York commercial office building. Floor to ceiling glazing and generous ceiling heights allow natural light to flood the office spaces, enhancing employee wellbeing. "

While we can't really refer to this giant concrete, steel and glass skyscraper as being green, it has received the LEED Gold green building standard for its sustainability features. The steel frame and glass exterior make use of recycled materials, construction recycling programs were used to ensure minimal materials went to landfill, plus water-saving fixtures are installed in all bathrooms. Additionally, it offers excellent links to bicycle paths and public transport, including direct access to an adjacent subway station.

Source: Foster + Partners

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5 comments
BlueOak
Mostly made up of office space, 3 million sq ft more of it. Good thing work at home has dramatically increased demand for office space. /s

Add to that, the business-unfriendly administrations of NYC and NY and resulting net migration to elsewhere.
guzmanchinky
I can't really see a need for these kinds of Nakatomi style office buildings anymore, but maybe I'm totally wrong?
christopher
They should have earmarked some of that $4bn on a designer from this century. Soooo ugly.
Thomas Leavitt
Office space isn’t going away completely; this will pull tenants from other spaces and drive consolation and repurposing of those spaces. Probably make them more affordable, as well.
Jerome Morley Larson Sr eAIA
Fits right in with the …um… design of its context.