In the realization of the building in 262 Fifth Avenue, the tower for residential use that will rise in the center of Manhattan, we are collaborating in the realization of different types of facades. One of these will feature a cladding of 270 thousand brick.
What are the bricks?
These are architectural building blocks in extruded aluminum that, once cut and assembled on the frames, will give the building a unique charm.
To achieve a result of such aesthetic value, a long and meticulous procedure is followed that includes cutting, sorting, control and assembly steps carried out in sequence by many people to prevent possible errors.
This is a fantastic post. I really enjoyed seeing & reading about those “bricks”. I am still not sure if I understand if there will be ‘exposed’ concrete on the facade, or the entire building will be covered in this beautiful cladding material (bricks) shown in the above post by Arctic Camel.
I will gladly wait-and-see, as much of this building has gone through various modifications since the original rendering was published on this YIMBY forum.
Just amazing to see - this facade will be stunning. Those men up on that scaffolding are true ‘artisan craftsmen’ …
It is intriguing watching this building go up despite it having some basic forms. Perhaps I’m waiting/anxious to assess the final visual “damage” when complete. I really hope the facade is worthy of the location.
Glad there seems to have been a major change made on the facade.
This facade in the rendering is NOT worthy of that prominent. We can be thankful there has been what seems to be a change from what the curtain wall design was originally. That smooth highly polished sheet metal looks tacky: reminds me the ‘safety’ mirrors used in prisons and public restrooms.
This new facade made of high quality materials is a major improvement;solid aluminum “bricks”. This building is now officially ‘Serious Architecture’ despite the quirky design.
Glad it does not seem to be THIS smooth material we see in older renderings-
@infoshare So just because it was using formed aluminum panels before it wasn’t high quality but now it is because it’s extruded aluminum? We dont know whether these extruded pieces of aluminum will be used to cover the whole building so theres no point in assuming that the flat aluminum panels that cover the majority of the building in the renders are gone.
After looking through some footage of the overall panels being made, these are the spandrel pieces, whether or not there will be a division between the spandrel pieces or not is still in question and where the operable portion of the window will be is also in question since all residential buildings must have operable windows or some form of operable opening.
Eitherway theyve started to put insulation on the rainscreen portion of the facade, so they may begin to start installing something soon, what it is in entirely up in the air.
I 100% agree with this, any cladding on this will be considered damage regardless of what it is because the building is lackluster. It definitely isn’t worthy of the location. The spandrel piece looks like a mess of weathered wooden shingles.
I do assume that those solid aluminum ‘bricks’ are intended to cover the entire facade: now that you mention it - that would be a lot of bricks. We will have to wait and see.
If the facade is mostly covered with the flat hlghly polished panels; that looks tacky or garish to my taste.
Those glossy flat panels covering the entire facade was the only thing that kept this building from going from ‘better’ to ‘best’ my scale of good/better/best.
So, yes - if those flat highly polished panels are used on the facade to the extent shown on the rendering: this building will be down graded one notch…
So, to summarize: flat shiny panels on the facade is BAD, Solid extruded aluminum bricks on ‘most’ of the facade is GOOD.
Please, don’t take my comments TOO seriously - I am being a bit toung-n-cheek with my commentary…
It’s for certain that the top of the core has been reached now because of the appearance and bent nature of the rebar at the top. The top of the inhabitable portion of the structure has been topped out for some time now, but the plan was always (both in the original and current iterations) for the core and the “roof” of the larger structure to be level with each other but its possible that there will be a floor built of steel to be level with the top of the core which would make the current building align perfectly with the latest depiction of the top.
It makes sense that the crown structure started below the top of the core so that it could be supported more since it is a fairly large opening and will be subject to a great deal of wind loads both those blowing against it and being funneled into it.
It will be interesting to see the duplex level floors at the top be completely see through as the support poles are being removed floor by floor.
You can see on the later photos that the construction elevator being built on the south side of the core to begin waterproofing it (because it wont be exposed concrete) has nearly reached the top.
Thanks TKDV, that was really helpful. I personally don’t know what to think about those aluminum panels. Kind of weird, their look reminds me of “stylized” old weathered shingles on a cottage in the Hamptons.
I like the bricks but I’m not sure about the vertical panel lines. Wouldn’t it be funny if they built a secret spire for the top like the Chrysler building did?
