NEW YORK | 270 Park Ave | 1,389 FT | 70 FLOORS

[stache]

I hear ya.

[rbrome]

Oh definitely. Which is why I understood waiting until demo was 100% complete.

…so… what’s the reason now?

[mcart]

It’s insanely frustrating. As much as I love our wonderful 3D modelers on here like @rgarri4, the official renderings to be more polished (sorry rgarri) and spread around the news a whole lot. The official press releases also can give us more info about the project as a whole.

[DeSelby]

Not to get into a big debate here, but the old building was one of the best examples of mid-century modern skyscraper design anywhere and it’s a crime that it wasn’t landmarked. Unfortunately, what happened here on Park Avenue is typical for NYC: the gem got demolished and the junk stays. Almost every surrounding block is filled with modern crap, and JPMC chose to demolish one of the few truly great examples of modern design in Manhattan instead. Ridiculous. I cringe every time I see 245, 280, or 300 Park Avenue because it’s an outrage that those hunks of junk are still standing while 270 is gone.

BUT, what’s done is done and the only thing left at this point is to build a replacement that’s as good or better. The architects at Foster + Partners aren’t dummys. They know about the history of modern architecture, they know about the Park Avenue style, about Gordon Bunshaft, Natalie de Blois & SOM, and they know they’re tearing a piece of it down. Their replacement needs to be suitably iconic.

[mcart]

Literally just a glass box.

But you’re right, let’s not get into a big argument over this. Building is gone, let’s focus on the future. Hopefully some of the junk around it gets pulled down as well and rebuilt into something nice.

[bpc]

Regardless of how anyone feels about the architectural design of the original building, it was not in great condition and was aging less well than other mid century or earlier towers in terms of facade. The facade looked faded and worn out, and the internal renovations were inadequate to keep it in the realm of class A office space.
While it was a nice building and better-than-average example of the International Style, the style survives in much better condition in the examples of buildings like Chase Manhattan Plaza downtown; or the Seagrams building further up.

[IhateUSsteel]

It was a great looking building for its style, but there are better. And since better will definitely replace it, I don’t mind the fact that it came down

[galebrewerwitch]

As is often the case, they’ll release official renderings when the actual building is nearly finished, which is kinda pointless then.

[Fleurdelys]

I’m not a new-yorker so I know very little about the way it works there, but for the demolition to be accepted, shouldn’t the developper submit plans to a commitee of the city ?

[Mackensen]

https://twitter.com/tomwatson/status/1458976572443086852?s=20

[Springboss123_456]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVrah40saAy/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCGxJ-ADcz/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWFJoMwsw8i/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBT84cL7zn/?utm_medium=copy_link

[JRF]

crawler cranes are gone as of today/tomorrow.

[robertwalpole]

JRF, will this be 1,425’, taller, or shorter? I see some things that say 1,388’, but I suspect that marks the highest occupied floor and not necessarily the height to the top of the glass enclosure at the top of the roof.

[bmosborne]

I also have no idea what the height will be. I’ve seen both 1388 and 1425, but I wish this building were much taller!

[mcart]

It’ll probably be around 1,400 ft. And we’d know its exact height if the developers had released renderings and massing diagrams like they’re supposed to, which is really starting to piss me off

[bmosborne]

This is not my best work, but I posted it here as 1388.

[Skyalign]

Kind of in the dark but you can still see it.

[bmosborne]

1388 ft compared to 1730 ft!

[JRF]

1320+

[robertwalpole]

Since it’s shorter, has the design changed?