Denmark's Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has unveiled preliminary plans and some renders for Manhattan's Two World Trade Center, the fourth and final skyscraper slated for the World Trade Center site. As you might expect from a firm with BIG's pedigree, it's a real eye-catcher, and once complete, may well prove the most striking building in the immediate area.
Though rumored for some time, BIG's appointment was met with raised eyebrows, as Foster + Partners was originally given the nod for the project. The firm had even gone as far as to lay foundations, but as Wired reports, James Murdoch, who is set to take the reins of 21st Century Fox from his father, supposedly didn't like the design. As 21st Century Fox and News Corp will lease the entire bottom half of the skyscraper as its headquarters, Murdoch's opinion appears to have carried the day (the other half will be managed by real estate firm Silverstein Properties, which will lease units to commercial tenants).
BIG's tower will make use of the existing Foster + Partners foundations and feature seven separate volumes stacked atop each other. Reminiscent of children's toy blocks placed carelessly atop each other, the volumes "lean" toward the direction of the One World Trade Center. The building is also aligned so as to not spoil existing views to St. Paul’s Chapel.
The 80-plus story building will rise to a total height of 408 m (1,340 ft) and comprise 260,000 sq m (2,798,616 sq ft) of usable floorspace. Its novel stacking volumes will create 3,530 sq m (38,000 sq ft) of outdoor terrace space that will boast greenery and choice views of Manhattan. The interior of the building will feature a focus on large open collaborative spaces that encourage inter-office sharing, and include television studios, informal meeting areas, restaurants, and leisure areas, such as basketball courts and a running track.
We've no word from BIG on an estimated date of completion, but Wired reports that it is slated for September 11, 2021. You can check out the video below to see Bjarke Ingels discuss the design.
Source: BIG