If there’s anything I ever look forward to as it relates to this project, it’s your amazing closeups! I may also eventually start to post close up photos of it, but yours are practically like you’re on site!
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Heheh, I like to climb on things 
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I agree it always makes my day when I see close up pictures have been posted. I for a lil did think you yourself must be working at the site every now and then lol
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Yeah, I was looking at the camera feed and thinking, they are not wasting any time putting those panels on! Over a 3rd of the right side has been clad now.
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TKDV, do we know what these panels are made of?
This has been a debate in the forum 
Probably stone, but they look very smooth.
I volunteer to ask the workers on the site
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I had originally thought they were granite or some other stone with a matte finish, but the side vents changed my perspective of that when I saw them in a close up photo. The extremely sharp edges also make me believe they are just matte finished aluminum panels. Stone panels would never last with chamfered edges that sharp in profile without being broken/chipped.
Edit: Want to clarify that they are indeed granite panels per verification from Alemel
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Thanks 
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I was lucky to be at the site when workers were loading a new batch, they told me the panels are made of granite. I touch one of them and it feels like stone. @GSPLover @TKDV
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Nice insight! I had my suspicions as the far images never really helped show the corners or real detail of the panels, but your lovely close ups show that they are damaged some, an unavoidable thing I guess.
Look to be the normal 2" that stone veneer normally is. 
Thanks very much @Alemel!
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You are welcome! I believe granite is hard enough to achieve this sharp look.
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What a relief! A lot of people were convinced this was metal/composite. Glad they didn’t further value engineer this (besides the roof and the north garage entry unfortunately). Right now the panels are quite dirty which makes it hard to tell
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The panels are definitely dirty, but I’m positive their that their finish is still matte vs being reflective/shiny.
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Yes, they are quite matte - If you see them from an extreme angle, they show a little bit of shine. The glass encasing the marble at the top has a similar effect but is more pronounced.
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Thanks for the pictures and info. I do think that a polished black granite would have been a better choice but, what do I know.
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I also agree that a more polished granite may have looked better, but I think from a design perspective, it’s good that the used a matte like finish because the marble facade portion is also matte in nature and even the glass covering the marble has a matte texture to it that is unnoticeable to prevent the marble from being washed out by reflections, which is why the veining is always so visible.
Lots of progress and things going on this morning. The west plaza has virtually been cleared out in what I’d assume is nearing preparation for the hardscaping. Bollard installation has continued where it left off near One WTC and more bollard have been revealed where they left off near the middle/east side of the front. Granite installation is nearing completion and the East sidewalk has been brought to near grade.
I’m really excited to be able to also provide actual photo updates for this project up to it’s projected opening in the near future.
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Yes, there was a lot of activity today, more than usual.
Some special guests visiting the site, they look like architects/designers.
They’ve been making a lot of progress on different fronts. I can’t wait to see the fences down.
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Couldn’t agree more! Probably one of the best parts of construction as it signals completion is near! It’s also more exciting when it’s an opaque fence like this one!
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