MIDTOWN'S biggest development puzzle is a mystery no more.

The image at right shows the first rendering of the West Side's most buzzed-over, blogged-about new skyscraper - Boston Properties' 1 million square-foot office tower at Eighth Avenue between 54th and 55th streets, to be known as 250 W. 55th St.

The design by Skidmore Owings & Merrill's Chris Cooper has not been previously released. It calls for a glass curtain-wall tower of 39 stories, set back from the avenue atop a graciously proportioned base boasting a 57 foot-high, wraparound glass retail façade and 25,000 square feet of stores.

Excavation and demolition of smaller buildings on the site are underway and Boston says tenants will be able to move into its new project by January 2010.

Publicly traded Boston, led by Mort Zuckerman, finished assembling the site last year, and real estate circles have mused ever since over its plans for the once low-rise block.

Boston bought the land from developer Robert Gladstone, who previously acquired it from Hearst and from a local family for a total of around $200 million. In a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Boston pegged its total investment in the project at $910 million.

Law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has signed a lease for 220,000 square feet on its upper floors; a deal with law firm Proskauer, Rose for between 500,000 and 600,000 square feet is pending. CB Richard Ellis is the leasing agent.

To complete its assemblage, Boston is buying air rights from Broadway's Shubert Organization. Sources said that deal has received the blessing of the Department of City Planning, paving the way for the sale to go through and for construction to begin once the site is completely razed.

Eighth Avenue has now become an unlikely architectural showcase with recent completions of Sir Norman Foster's Hearst headquarters at 57th Street, Renzo Piano's New York Times Co. tower at 41st Street, and Arquitectonica's Westin Hotel at 43rd Street.

Meanwhile, Stephen Pozycki's SJP Properties' 40-story 11 Times Square, designed by FX Fowle, has begun to rise at the southeast corner of 42nd Street, and Jay Eisaenstadt is completing a 43-story condo at 47th Street designed by Ismael Leyva.

But until now, the Boston project remained shrouded in mystery as the company negoti ated simulta neously with the Shuberts, pro spective office tenants and a handful of resi dential tenants still living at the site.

NYpost (www.nypost.com)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2615100550_31493a7e49.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2615100550_31493a7e49_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2615095692_60f8cfc2fe_b.jpg

scpgch, Flickr

Probably three years before resuming construction

Boston Properties are legally required to bring it up to street level, and close it off, before pausing in construction. By the end of the year, they will be gone, and the sidewalks returned to the public.

They still have two-plus years of construction to go, but it's unlikely they'll begin again before 2012.

John Q. Public, SSP

:ohno: wtf is this $hit!! sigh!!!! looks like we going back in 60s :ohno:

:puke::puke: :puke:

:ohno: wtf is this $hit!! sigh!!!! looks like we going back in 60s :ohno:

yeah, what the heck!?

i hope this one will be redesigned drastically.

this has to be the most boring project in all of new york.

C'mon. Yes it's simple, but it's not so bad.

i beg to differ. i think the design is very simple yet elegan. it's a nice representation of SOM's signature design.

Classy and elegant, yet boring and a throwback to a time most would rather forget in architecture

This reminds me a lot of the Renaissance tower in Dallas before its renovation (in 1986)

http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/rentower-1978.jpg
http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=4602

^^^ built in 1978

Boring and dated.Don't build it.

Wow. That's definitely a loss.

^^ Even Zuckerman can do better than that. If he wants a cheap but oddly tolerable design, he should give Kostas Kondylis a call.

I have to agree with all above. :(

Just because it's simple doesn't mean it's ugly. Has every hightrise today must be curvy and glassy?

:clown::clown::clown::clown: OMG this building is so exciting (sarcasm)

This is probably what a lot of new yorkers are doing at the site of the lol :tiasd:

What are you all complaining about? Yes it's a little boring but it's not like it's ugly, plus, there needs to be glass boxes built to make the special buildings like BOA or Chrysler look good :cheers:

I don't know I think the overall massiveness look is getting to me

:ohno::omg::omg:

now that's ugly !!

It's almost painful to look at.

^^ ^^ ^^

Boring box? so? it's just a filler...

Not like is a 1000ft eyesore that might ruin the skyline.

I always prefer a simple box, than a wierd shaped, overdone taky building. :ohno:

It's back on:

CurbedNY (http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2011/03/09/stalled_40story_office_tower_gets_a_new_lease_on_life.php)


Stalled 40-Story Office Tower Gets a New Lease on Life

http://ny.curbed.com/uploads/2009_02_55threap.jpg

It's time to remove the Reaper from the case file of 250 West 55th Street, because the never-built office tower that was a casualty of the credit crunch looks like it's back in business. The second biggest piece of news in Lois Weiss's Post column today is that law firm Morrison Foerster has signed a letter of intent to be the Hell's Kitchen/Midtown tower's anchor tenant, making the Boston Properties-developed, SOM-designed glassy giant a "viable project," according to one industry source. The 40-story tower will have 25,000 square feet of restaurants and retail in its base, so cubicle jockeys in the neighborhood might have some new lunch hour options—if the deal gets sealed, of course. Oh, and the biggest piece of news? A broker had Weiss include a marriage proposal at the end of her column. What can we say, we're hopeless romantics!

This tower is lame.

When done right, buildings like this simply look ok. Nothing special, but definately not ugly.

Not like is a 1000ft eyesore that might ruin the skyline.

And thank God for that man.

The Real Deal (http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/law-firm-morrison-foerster-plans-move-to-boston-properties-planned-west-55th-street-building--2)


Law firm leases at Boston Properties' planned West 55th Street building
May 24, 2011 06:30PM

By Katherine Clarke

http://ny.curbed.com/uploads/2008_2_250west55th.jpg

Mortimer Zuckerman, Mark Edelstein, 250 West 55th Street[Updated May 25 at 11a.m.] International law firm Morrison & Foerster has signed a 15-year lease to take 180,000 square feet, or seven floors, of space at 250 West 55th Street, Boston Properties' planned $1.05 billion, one million-square-foot office building in Midtown, Boston Properties announced today.

Construction on the 39-story building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, began in late 2007, but was suspended as a result of the recession in 2009, after the completion of excavation and foundations. It is slated to resume in the fall of this year and be completed by 2014.

Mortimer Zuckerman, chairman and CEO of Boston Properties, said the company's decision to proceed with construction reflected the city's improving overall economy, particularly the office market. "Upon its completion," he said in a statement, "[the building] will be considered among the elite office buildings in Manhattan… We are delighted that the prestigious law firm… has selected 250 West 55th Street for its new state-of-the-art home."

Mark Edelstein, chair of the Morrison & Foerster Realty Group, and who headed up the lease negotiations on behalf of the law firm along with partners John McCarthy and Peter Aitelli, told The Real Deal that the law firm had been able to extend its lease with Vornado Properties at its current space, 1290 Sixth Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets, until they are able to expand into the new premises.

"We chose the developer as much as the location," he said of the decision to move. "We were involved with [Boston Properties] on Times Square Tower and 5 Times Square. We've seen them build buildings really well."

Edelstein declined to comment on rent for the property.

Poor man's tower 7 lol

well good update and it's a nice filler tower.

NYC doesn't need fillers.

Simple and ugly tower ...

NY Post (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/the_are_ready_to_rumble_Y61FsAe3shMgkpt0TTNnPP#ixzz1TDw6f1PF)


The W. 50s are ready to rumble

Last Updated: 11:34 PM, July 25, 2011

Posted: 11:19 PM, July 25, 2011

Steve Cuozzo
REALTY CHECK

TWO sets of Buildings Dept. approvals issued yesterday paved the way for full-bore work on two big projects on the block bounded by Broadway and Eighth Avenue and West 54th and 55th Streets -- soon to be Manhattan's noisiest construction site except for the World Trade Center.


http://s3.amazonaws.com/trd_three/images/68291/250W55_articlebox.jpg

At 250 W. 55th St., Boston Properties' 900,000 square-foot office tower is set to rise after a two-year hiatus. The DOB approved plans for a "heavy-duty," 712-foot-long sidewalk shed to wrap the L-shaped site on three sides.

Law firm Morrison Foerster recently signed on for 200,000 square feet, reviving the project that Boston froze at the foundation two years ago.

------------------------

will this be visible from any angle on the skyline? seems like a very boring and generic project.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5XPtNclJUZwnoTqIHLDVVdGqj-rKPhZ2kLrdt6HGLYKS5L5NN



http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMacllR_Dm4SF-Fc9oK9g0UFMu3kfHX1F2ksh59jJj57oHAz1i



http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDg5FHXUSbcDgbZxZevEG1BC_CNhPwnUnFG-qQIjgFDe3GtTtvRw



http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-vekN4gVn-pH7IsQ58vNCSYDZ_T4742GqWWEgCYWrhMoa5DZL



http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvopO7U88Os_e7ekuHGVTGUzxIbke-0iLzTdLw4mldGJIA7By7


pics from wired new york, skyscraperpage and skyscrapercity


very beautiful tower

Agreed, I think this tower is incredibly simplistic and elegant. Will simply add to the mass that is Midtown Manhattan.

Agreed, I think this tower is incredibly simplistic and elegant. Will simply add to the mass that is Midtown Manhattan.

ok this tower is boring. but this is a tower who makes new york better.
if it is a tower with great architecture and a strange form midtown would look more worse. thats my opinion.:cheers:

Very simple building...probably doesn't take too much away from its surroundings.

Are there some renders from in the real street?

August 16th, RoldanTTLB, WNY..

Let's rise!!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6051059197_450e641a41_b.jpg

^^ Regardless what anyone thinks of its design, this open space needs a filler. :)

August 16th, RoldanTTLB, WNY..

Let's rise!!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6051059197_450e641a41_b.jpg

what are that for steel thing in the front?

I walked by the site today and there is a crane on site, and there were definitely more than a dozen workers on site as well. Unfortunately I got drunk and broke the camera on my iPhone so no pictures, but this is definitely u/c and needs to be moved.

I walked by the site today and there is a crane on site, and there were definitely more than a dozen workers on site as well. Unfortunately I got drunk and broke the camera on my iPhone so no pictures, but this is definitely u/c and needs to be moved.

i hope its true what you say because you were drunk:lol:

Wow, lots of people here don't understand good architecture (which SOM is amazing at) it seems. I would prefer this over another Dubai-tower any day.

I walked by the site today and there is a crane on site, and there were definitely more than a dozen workers on site as well. Unfortunately I got drunk and broke the camera on my iPhone so no pictures, but this is definitely u/c and needs to be moved.

Thanks for the info but no photos = no move.

From WiredNY: http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&p=373467&viewfull=1#post373467

They are making rapid progress with construction. They've loaded-in a lot of steel, and are working on erecting the core. They've should have the steel infrastructure all up by the end of January. It will make for interesting photos.

Yeah, not surprising. I'll be out tomorrow and try and snap some photos with a friends iphone so we can get this moved to the U/C section.

Yeah, not surprising. I'll be out tomorrow and try and snap some photos with a friends iphone so we can get this moved to the U/C section.

:cheers:

i like this tower

This is the best I could do while riding my bike up 8th Ave with my friends iPhone. You can clearly see the crane. Unfortunately, the really interesting stuff was blocked by trees, but on the left you can see the outline of some steel that rises two stories. All the steel is new since the last time I went by the site so this seems to be moving along nicely, and since the foundation was completed to street level this should rise relatively quickly.

Can we get this moved?

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6113999724_1f19bd71aa_b.jpg

they should change to u/c the title

Thanks for the update

Ohhh... Thanks for the update man! :cheers:

Finally a real american looking building, no asian glass crap building.

September 13th, Tectonic, WNY..

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/355/dsc1413sn.jpg
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&page=46

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9263/dsc1414sn.jpg
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&page=46

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/250/dsc1418sn.jpg
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&page=46

This tower is a box, but it will have awesome facade..Expect some great reflections..It will be high as Hearst Tower and top floors will have some decent Central Park views..It will be also almost full visible from Hudson River and west Manhattan..

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4043/45349235.jpg

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6448/96427973.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1770/84529184.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5885/60604512.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/639/23767475.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/4121/250west55thpodium1.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/2065/4617250w55thnynytbaweb4.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7039/4619250w55thnynytbaweb5.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/241/060111bostonprop.jpg
http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

Its height should be reduced to 550 ft (167 meters), according to the website 'som'.

http://www.som.com/content.cfm/250_west_55th_street

Work is moving along at 250 W. 55th St:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6176/6169735237_84f4830cd9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6169735237/)
250 54th Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6169735237/) by curbed (http://www.flickr.com/people/curbed/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/6170269316_98b4b4ef62_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6170269316/)
250 54th Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6170269316/) by curbed (http://www.flickr.com/people/curbed/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6170268662_ebb7851f70_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6170268662/)
250 54th Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6170268662/) by curbed (http://www.flickr.com/people/curbed/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6172/6169732263_b6c4b7f81d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6169732263/)
250 54th Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/6169732263/) by curbed (http://www.flickr.com/people/curbed/), on Flickr

WoW!

:banana:

171m or 167m?

fat & basic ...

Dammit, I just came here to post those pics..:D

My article on the building, :)

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2011/10/construction-begins-on-250-west-55th.html

Dominated by the Time Warner Center and the Hearst Building, the neighborhood already has a heavy office presence, although that's to be expected anywhere in Midtown. 250 West 55th's immediate vicinity is undergoing very significant changes though, as the new Marriot hotels are going to be rising on the same block but on the side facing Broadway rather than 8th Avenue.

As well as a picture from today! (I took it myself)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6212182779_ce01214eef_b.jpg

Thanks for the photo man! ^^

Was by the site earlier today, they are making really nice progress. Thing is flying along.

Nothing wrong whith this building, a normal tower which is looking good also in the next 50 year.:)

I walked by the site today and there is a crane on site, and there were definitely more than a dozen workers on site as well. Unfortunately I got drunk and broke the camera on my iPhone so no pictures, but this is definitely u/c and needs to be moved.

Though the project has moved on now, I was there late August when they were putting up the first Liebherr Crane. Here are some pictures of that moment. This was the view coming out of the Ameritania Hotel on West 54th Street.

1.
http://i53.tinypic.com/s5iceb.jpg


2.
http://i55.tinypic.com/29axkr6.jpg


3.
http://i55.tinypic.com/143gupu.jpg

WHY WHY WHY why are they doing this to NY? Dont build it! :ohno:

^^ Don't build it because...?

Because NY is supposed to be taking a step forward, not back into the boxy 60's.

Because NY is supposed to be taking a step forward, not back into the boxy 60's.

sorry but this is the style for ny. we need more of them.

other question

171m or 167m tall?:)

I'm fucking tired of shiny-glassy-twisted-skyscrapers like dubai. A building can have a simple design, you know?
Good addition for NYC.

I agree Zack, this is a very simplistic, elegant, and classic design I think.

Plus, if you don't like it, a building of this height won't have a dramatic impact on the skyline. I don't see anything wrong with it, but to each his own I guess.

I'm not a fan of the bland box either but it's the economics of building in a city as expensive as New York. Developers have to max out their income from the buildable envelope so you get the box. Any developer building twisty shapes or 'shards' in NYC would either be charging stupendous rents or go broke. It sucks but that's the hand they're dealt. That said, there's ample evidence in NY that you can do a lot more with the basic box envelope than four curtainwalls and a lobby.

Awesome update by Peteynyc1 on WNY (http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&page=47&p=381812&viewfull=1#post381812), you can see this building obviously on the left, and you can see the crane for One57 on the right, AND you can see a sliver of the crane being used for 1715 Broadway in the middle.

This thing is flying upwards!!

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14420&d=1321026487

^^ ^^ ^^

Boring box? so? it's just a filler...

Not like is a 1000ft eyesore that might ruin the skyline.

I always prefer a simple box, than a wierd shaped, overdone taky building. :ohno:

If you call art deco, gothic or art noveau "overdone" then you have a serious problem with your architectural taste.

This area is going to be insanely dense. Especially considering that those 3 buildings are going up right now [in the photo]

If you call art deco, gothic or art noveau "overdone" then you have a serious problem with your architectural taste.
You have a serious problem understanding what I write. :ohno:

From what exactly did you get "art deco" ? :doh:

wierd shaped, overdone taky building

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1566/X1007/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1566-046921.jpg

For ex. If all those 4 buildings would be just simple boxes, not wierd shaped, overdone and taky would look much better that now.

p.s.
Just for your knowledge, Wollworth Building and Manhattan Municipal Building ar my favorites from NY.

November 12th, 2011

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee429/dkny622/IMG_0756.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee429/dkny622/IMG_0759.jpg

Wow, the size of the podium is great. Thanks NYCD!

Any notice ????????????? or is on hold ?

A nice and simple one. :bowtie:

Any notice ????????????? or is on hold ?

No one said this was on hold, there just haven't any photo updates in a while.

I was by the site about a week and a half ago and work on the fifth floor was well underway. The pace of construction on this thing is pretty impressive.

I'm not a fan of the bland box either but it's the economics of building in a city as expensive as New York. Developers have to max out their income from the buildable envelope so you get the box. Any developer building twisty shapes or 'shards' in NYC would either be charging stupendous rents or go broke. It sucks but that's the hand they're dealt. That said, there's ample evidence in NY that you can do a lot more with the basic box envelope than four curtainwalls and a lobby.

Smartest thing said so far in this thread.

Any notice ????????????? or is on hold ?

first reading then posting:bash:

The tower will be a nice filler, but reasonably speaking, it is way too plain.

From SSP

This morning:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6437005885_f686c5e237_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6437034591_b7148560bb_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6437037203_9427c254c6_b.jpg

This thing is moving. From today, December 4th, 12 noon:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6455448613_36580fae60_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455448613/)
100_4357 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455448613/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6455451207_df13452d7b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455451207/)
100_4360 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455451207/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6455451959_f16ac49885_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455451959/)
100_4361 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455451959/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6455453859_c3ff013aab_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455453859/)
100_4363 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455453859/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6455454813_bba94bbca1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455454813/)
100_4364 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455454813/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6455455677_fa0e7fbcdd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455455677/)
100_4365 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455455677/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6455456787_2b4827d00e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455456787/)
100_4366 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455456787/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6455457677_a46fdf1452_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455457677/)
100_4367 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6455457677/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

You did a lot of exploring today!

Yes, and I missed a couple of sites. I thought the stuff over by Lincoln center was all small projects. Now that I know those will have some real height I will add them to my regular places to check on.

Plus, I need to go over to east 57th Street and see how the school is going there.

Northern Midtown is turning into a real hot spot for construction and even rivaling the WTC.

Yes, and I missed a couple of sites. I thought the stuff over by Lincoln center was all small projects. Now that I know those will have some real height I will add them to my regular places to check on.

Plus, I need to go over to east 57th Street and see how the school is going there.

Northern Midtown is turning into a real hot spot for construction and even rivaling the WTC.

thank you for all the updates!

I'm fucking tired of shiny-glassy-twisted-skyscrapers like dubai. A building can have a simple design, you know?
Good addition for NYC.

you can have a simple design, but this is just terrible. where are the spatial qualities? there is clearly nothing offered in terms of "architecture" here...just a cheap boring box. at least they could have put a cantilever somewhere to give some visual interest.

I really hope the cladding will be great, and not as 60's like in the model.

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9177/img2011121000063.jpg
55 & 8

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1983/img2011121000064.jpg
55 & 8

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4015/manhattan2011121000065.jpg
54 & 8

Great for NY

NY the dynamic city..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6494841637_00370e1e85_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494841637/)
100_4408 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494841637/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6494843585_8e37c9d030_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494843585/)
100_4410 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494843585/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6494845693_997f938190_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494845693/)
100_4412 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494845693/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6494844523_bdc63cb793_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494844523/)
100_4411 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494844523/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6494847519_bc2f992aa0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494847519/)
100_4414 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6494847519/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

Great shots 600West218! This framimg job looks designed for speed!

Bit dull for New York.

Bit dull for New York.

A building this simple in its design comes down to cladding, and all indications are the cladding will be very high quality. Assuming the worst case scenario it's not tall enough to have a significant impact on the skyline, but it does look like we'll get a real solid filler.

today:

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/8504/55th1.jpg

full update,

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2011/12/construction-update-250-west-55th-237.html

Looks like they are beginning to put up the steel structure for floor # 9.

come on now! its the 21st century not the 1960's! its The BIG APPLE we have to catch up with the eastern cities in asia, we want to look futuristic as well and not back in the hippy days

come on now! its the 21st century not the 1960's! its The BIG APPLE we have to catch up with the eastern cities in asia, we want to look futuristic as well and not back in the hippy days

I wouldn't worry about that.

http://inhabitat.com/nyc/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2011/08/Jean-Nouvel-Torre-Verre2-537x321.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/140139390/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/139385591/original.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7720/photographoffinal.jpg

http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2008/09/07-sky-villa-dusk_sq.jpg

^^ Right on Robert. New York only needs a few signature towers which stand out. Tower Verre, One57, 2WTC, The Hudson Yards Towers are all very beautiful supertalls and will perfectly fit in the skyline. There's absolutely no need for every highrise to be hypermodern. On the contrary, every city needs normal, well sized skyscrapers and highrises which all bring balance to the skyline.

That's why this project is totally fine by me, and even more so because what we can expect from the cladding.

^^
The guy has a point...
Besides, a boring but 561ft building is better than nothing.

this building should fly up. Symmetrical and repetitive. Decking is nice and square, whole sheets. Easy peasy.

they should do a floor and a half every week, once they get really rolling.

^^
The guy has a point...
Besides, a boring but 561ft building is better than nothing.

thats my motivation to watch in this forum. every skyscraper makes new york "better".

i like it, classic and great proportions. boxes can be nice too :baeh3: only the base is a let down...

Taken by me on the 21st:

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2889/2508th1.jpg

full update:

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2011/12/construction-update-midtown-west.html

come on now! its the 21st century not the 1960's! its The BIG APPLE we have to catch up with the eastern cities in asia, we want to look futuristic as well and not back in the hippy days

NYC plays in another league, it hasn't to catch up with any city on earth in my opinion

December 25th, Tectonic, WNY..

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/44/dsc2771sn.jpg

looks like tarps for fireproofing...

Love that building. Nice design.

will they use concrete for this building?

will they use concrete for this building?
Looks like the structure will be steel.

will they use concrete for this building?

for the decks and for the core. they might encase some base columns, but other than that, steel.

21 Jan 2012

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/255/img2012012100178.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1088/img2012012100177.jpg

Forgot about this one too?

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14840&d=1328564673
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&page=50

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14925&d=1330027242
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8287&page=50

March 4th, 2012

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1627.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1628.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1629.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1630.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1633.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1634.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1635.jpg
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy111/DKNY618/IMG_1636.jpg

^^
Great shots!

New steel, and glass!

full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/03/update-250-west-55th-gets-glass-1715.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtJ5nfSYKRA/T1W5r60qz3I/AAAAAAAAACA/QHOKaoA3NnM/s640/356.jpg

It kinda reminds me of the original WTC.

This one goes pretty fast! :cool:

This may not be spectacular, at least they build it so fast that the steel structure is soon covered in cladding.

It is too early for me to judge this building. Once the glass up more, I'll have a better definition. But anyway, this building is a good fill.

The glass look sexy but yes, we have to wait a bit longer for a better view...

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4572/dscn911201.jpg

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6851/dscn911001.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1412/dscn910801.jpg

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2163/dscn910901.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8561/dscn911301.jpg

^^ Great pics. Btw the height has been reduced...

250 West 55th Street (http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building.php?building_id=8767)

Figures
Height: Architectural 167.6 meter / 550 feet
Height: To Tip 167.6 meter / 550 feet
Floors Above Ground 40

It's still going to look quite large when completed...

Today! (full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/03/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715.html#more)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vu-CAS4dnY/T16ZJGmpheI/AAAAAAAAADc/fmWRlMOMzKk/s640/3125.jpg

That cladding is looking great!

That cladding has me salivating! It will look great on this street lined with older buildings!

I should've known that a building designed by SO&M wouldn't fail to impress.

Looks like it's rising faster than its neighbour.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6837688894_2b9ace892e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6837688894/)
March 14 10 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6837688894/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6983810935_281ebc069f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983810935/)
March 14 12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983810935/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6837698658_90286f56cb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6837698658/)
March 14 15 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6837698658/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6983820701_23935bb529_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983820701/)
March 14 16 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983820701/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6983820829_d6161028d6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983820829/)
March 14 17 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983820829/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6983820981_1e6dda54aa_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983820981/)
March 14 18 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6983820981/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

I love this tower, it's a rare throwback to the 60s box. Classy and contained, I think it might be a classic some day.

I love this tower, it's a rare throwback to the 60s box. Classy and contained, I think it might be a classic some day.

I agree, but since NY is in the habit of retro designs, why not build some more solid designs like Overseas Union Bank Centre building in Singapore. That would be something. Enough glass already, time for some concrete or granite.:cheers:

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=116

I agree, but since NY is in the habit of retro designs, why not build some more solid designs like Overseas Union Bank Centre building in Singapore. That would be something. Enough glass already, time for some concrete or granite.:cheers:

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=116

Agreed :cheers:

Indeed, new towers like 30 park place are great too.

How could anyone say this isn't a nice design? I like this ordinary box better than some other "modern" designs going up around the world. it's certainly better than ANYTHING in my area. With the reflective cladding, I'm sure people will grow on it and it'll become an eye catcher. Trust me, this building could have been MUCH worse.

Today,

Full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/03/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715_20.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M9EDSdM9ca0/T2ktPhv7G_I/AAAAAAAAAFU/Yu24xRjonB4/s640/3203.jpg

Great! newest tower that will rised.....great Job!!!
:cheers:

I agree, but since NY is in the habit of retro designs, why not build some more solid designs like Overseas Union Bank Centre building in Singapore. That would be something. Enough glass already, time for some concrete or granite.:cheers:

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=116

especially granite.

I agree, but since NY is in the habit of retro designs, why not build some more solid designs like Overseas Union Bank Centre building in Singapore. That would be something. Enough glass already, time for some concrete or granite.:cheers:

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=116

I know that you're not from NY, but that's an utterly misinformed statement, which is belied by the following projects that are among those recently completed, u/c, or about to start:

The 400m+ and 300m+ towers at the Hudson Yards;
400 PAS;
One 57;
Torre Verre;
56 Leonard;
8 Spruce;
The BIG pyramid;
Mercedes House;
BofA; etc.

^^ Agreed.

Nice cladding. I like the profile.

This building is 592 feet according to SSP

But it has a great facade!

^^ According to CTBUH it's not... maybe SSP hasn't caught up on the news yet: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=89319384&postcount=125

The glass is really some of the best I've seen anywhere, and the little fins add for a nice effect. I can understand how some people who haven't seen the quality of the glass won't appreciate it, but this tower will have almost no impact on the skyline. You're going to have to go out of your way to get a photo of the skyline with this in it.

The glass is really some of the best I've seen anywhere, and the little fins add for a nice effect. I can understand how some people who haven't seen the quality of the glass won't appreciate it, but this tower will have almost no impact on the skyline. You're going to have to go out of your way to get a photo of the skyline with this in it.

This sentence encapsulates why I love NYC. When a 550 ft building is virtually invisible, that's when I'm happy haha. Unless of course it's a beautiful building. I think an excellent example is the Chrysler Building, it's location near the East river makes it virtually impossible to see from Jersey, and it's a 1050 ft tall building. That's unheard of, I don't so much mind it, but it's sad that such a majestic building isn't seen.

I agree, but since NY is in the habit of retro designs, why not build some more solid designs like Overseas Union Bank Centre building in Singapore. That would be something. Enough glass already, time for some concrete or granite.:cheers:

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=116

+1 :cheers2:

From today:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/7015580661_9c7265c138_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7015580661/)
March 25 13 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7015580661/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/6869471296_f3068fea77_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6869471296/)
March 25 15 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6869471296/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/6869949652_013b5fa537_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6869949652/)
March 25 16 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6869949652/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/7016059549_fe2b0ea780_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7016059549/)
March 25 17 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7016059549/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

I Just love this style in architecture,it fits really well right there.The cladding is awesome tho

The cladding looks good when it's sunny, but is quite dull/foreboding when the weather isn't so nice.

Full update/new twitter!

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/03/construction-update-one57-250-west-55th.html#more

https://twitter.com/#!/newyorkyimby

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-scL2XIYDvTU/T3M0fB-VNdI/AAAAAAAAANA/Za9yqx-KmDY/s640/3284.jpg

Yesterday & full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/04/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PFAD8NvbjC0/T4BO7C-eFfI/AAAAAAAAAX0/bIX_1Su3-88/s640/2012-04-06+10.30.54.jpg

^^ Nice shot man... I liked this picture (your blog), where we can have a better sense of the size of the building on the street.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hr6X80ESJk8/T4BO7E78L2I/AAAAAAAAAX0/E4OocztwaJs/s640/2012-04-06+10.26.30.jpg

Soon you could take a picture of the street with the building rising in the background (this and 1715 Broadway)? If possible try to catch him in the same frame Hearst Tower... To get a better idea of ​​its size compared with its neighbors. It would be nice... :)

Something like this:

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4056/googlehearst.jpg

From today, Easter Sunday:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6911833856_1334211652_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833856/)
4 8 13 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833856/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

Looks like it is winning the race with its neighbor, but not for long:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5319/6911833878_f9540e4286_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833878/)
4 8 16 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833878/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/6911833886_1fd59b85b2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833886/)
4 8 17 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833886/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5344/6911833892_5933469dcd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833892/)
4 8 18 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/6911833892/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7057926677_a08ffa110d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7057926677/)
4 8 20 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7057926677/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7057926933_bfa5a278f3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7057926933/)
4 8 22 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7057926933/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7179/7057926967_d0cd4ce66b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7057926967/)
4 8 24 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/600west218/7057926967/) by 600West218 (http://www.flickr.com/people/600west218/), on Flickr

^^ Nice shot man... I liked this picture (your blog), where we can have a better sense of the size of the building on the street.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hr6X80ESJk8/T4BO7E78L2I/AAAAAAAAAX0/E4OocztwaJs/s640/2012-04-06+10.26.30.jpg

Soon you could take a picture of the street with the building rising in the background (this and 1715 Broadway)? If possible try to catch him in the same frame Hearst Tower... To get a better idea of ​​its size compared with its neighbors. It would be nice... :)

Thanks & will do! :)

It's definitely much more noticeable now, and I'm actually surprised at the presence it will exert on 8th Avenue. The cladding is less than impressive though, and I have a bad feeling it'll look worse as it keeps rising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRRtWSDGDR8

Interesting...

Hey, thanks for the reply!

He will stay nice in 8th Ave, though a bit smaller than the Hearst tower. :cheers:

yesterday evening from my phone

view from 9A
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2203/img01225201204071828.jpg

view from Broadway
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1601/img01233201204071943.jpg

/\

Hey, nice pic. This building is starting to show up on Eighth Avenue.

Strongly dislike the cladding on this one, it gets worse as it gets further up.

Full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/04/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715_12.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6M5qtCOVsmo/T4czD68hnGI/AAAAAAAAAh8/miG05acjmD8/s640/2012-04-12+15.19.12.jpg

The cladding seems pretty reminiscent of the old 1 World Trade Center.

Went by there today. The sign on the building says it will be 38 floors, not 40.

How many more floors do they have left to complete this? I would assume they are close to topping out.

Looks like they're about 4-6 floors from topping out from the looks of babybackribs' newest update. With the pace they've been going, they could top this out in 4 weeks, construction is flying on this.

Went by there today. The sign on the building says it will be 38 floors, not 40.

How many more floors do they have left to complete this? I would assume they are close to topping out.

Maybe 38 usable floors, and over two mechanical...

I dont mind a tall box, but it must have personality at least. This one fails.

This one can't compete with other towers going up in NYC, but I don't think it's a fail.

This fine air panorama is from the One57 thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=776476&page=165), but the 250W 55th construction looks eye-catching as well.
Unfortunatelly, this one will stop rising soon. I count 32 floors above the podium -
adding 2 base floors, it's 34 right now with indeed 4 more to come.

14/April/2012 by gesh01:
http://www.bgimages.org/temp/smP4141007.jpg

New pic, I swear this building is very shiny. I think it will look much better when completed than what the dull renders look like
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j358/Arawooho/IMG_20120419_172042-1.jpg?t=1334881946

^^ Reflection of Hearst Tower gives a nice touch to that picture.

Today & full update:

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/04/construction-update-1715-broadway-gets.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-elT7LFJ1VSM/T5GcRxPT9bI/AAAAAAAAAtU/lgBiAa2CqDU/s1600/2012-04-20+12.36.06.jpg

21 April 2012

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4210/mofo4.jpg

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6885/mofo3.jpg

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/9100/mofo2.jpg

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3083/mofo1.jpg

Today:

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/04/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715_23.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7S5BTGPZbAU/T5V70RTn2wI/AAAAAAAAAyY/Hly4jCKOzQE/s1600/2012-04-23+09.50.02.jpg

Jeez babyback and woon, you two did the full rundown of west Midtown projects the past few days, thanks for sharing. It looks like this has another 4 or 5 floors and it'll top out. Side note, the glass on 1715 Bway looks good too.

Jeez babyback and woon, you two did the full rundown of west Midtown projects the past few days, thanks for sharing. It looks like this has another 4 or 5 floors and it'll top out. Side note, the glass on 1715 Bway looks good too.

:) I work on 53rd/6th so these projects are very convenient to photograph, especially 250 W 55th and 1715 Broadway!

Woooo. Shiny glass! :cool:

Might be topped-out?

Full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/04/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715_30.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-in99O0gkzl8/T56hFpkl_tI/AAAAAAAAA28/6qjCT3jM4JU/s1600/2012-04-30+10.04.05.jpg

Still looks like it's got another 4 floors to go, give or take a floor. This'll be topped out in no time though. Thanks for the updates.

Crazy, I was there one year ago and nothing was there. Now there is a tower up taller then any in my city. Amazing!

^^ plus an even taller building direct beside it. :)

^^ and another one going up in between those two (although it has a crappy design).

Should be topped-out.

Full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/05/construction-update-1715-broadway-250.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mCRw90FINo/T6fTa8UzI5I/AAAAAAAABA4/rt3_RygTS3s/s1600/2012-05-07+09.51.12.jpg

Seems like it.

It's not topped out yet. You can see supports for new columns on the roof. Maybe two floors left, or one height jump.

^^ ^^ ^^

Boring box? so? it's just a filler...

Not like is a 1000ft eyesore that might ruin the skyline.

I always prefer a simple box, than a wierd shaped, overdone taky building. :ohno:

I completely agree with you! I really like this building. I love boxy buildings.

I completely agree with you! I really like this building. I love boxy buildings.

Boxy buildings are the very essence of New York City. Nobody wants New York to turn into Dubai, with fancy or tacky designs.

^^

Maybe NYC can build some cheapy Chryslerbuilding rip off towers like Dubai did... ;)

Indeed this lovely box fits NYC much better. :cheers:

This remainds me of twin towers.

This is now topped-out!

Full update: http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/05/construction-update-250-west-55th-tops.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H21VrI8YHIE/T7ES2bOpiPI/AAAAAAAABH4/hr0v5h_LdOQ/s1600/2012-05-12+16.43.50.jpg

WTF, in September there was barely anything on this site!

Well, I like the cladding but maybe too short for midtown....

Too short:nuts:.

I know such a tower would change a skyline in most of european cities but at midtown skyline - you know what I mean.....

If it's topped out, then why is there a piece of steel sticking out of a corner? It looks like a support for more steel...

Too short:nuts:.

just a good filler.

From today, full update:

http://newyorkyimby.blogspot.com/2012/05/construction-update-1715-broadway-moves.html#more

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4_6zxeV6BMc/T7O2fOCD-tI/AAAAAAAABL4/Lmh60LVBLis/s1600/2012-05-16+10.01.46.jpg

WTF, in September there was barely anything on this site!

typical floors and a nice square shape, plus two cranes....it goes quickly.

I like it a lot. I like this kind of glass simple boxes.
It blends in perfectly.

May 20

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7220824930_20be9e6235_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peet/7220824930/)
250 W 55th (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peet/7220824930/) by PeetThePhotographer (http://www.flickr.com/people/peet/), on Flickr

I like it a lot. I like this kind of glass simple boxes.
It blends in perfectly.

+1 :cheers:

This building will be full of MoFo lawyers.

Delete

The name of the firm is MoFo. You can find them at mofo.com. It's a legimate law firm, and those MoFos will be the anchor tenant of this tower here.

MoFos indeed:

TRD (http://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/05/21/boston-properties-office-tower-tops-off-courts-microsoft/)


Boston Properties’ tower tops off, courts Microsoft

http://therealdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Boston-Properties.jpg
Boston Properties Chairman Mort
Zuckerman and 250 West 55th Street


Midtown’s first new office building in three years topped off last week and is coming closer to signing a second major tenant, the Wall Street Journal reported. Boston Properties’ forthcoming 1.1 million-square-foot tower, slated to open in 2014 at 250 West 55th Street, is being eyed by technology giant Mircrosoft and law firms Chadbourne & Parke, which nearly signed for space at 1 World Trade Center, and Kaye Scholer.

Last year Morrison Foerster signed for about 20 percent of the building’s space, which allowed construction to move forward.

The progress of the leasing effort at the building, along with Edward Minskoff’s structure rising at 51 Astor Place in the Village, is being watched closely as an indicator of the city’s new office development market. The success of those buildings could be a harbinger of things to come for the offices rising at the World Trade Center, Related Companies’ Hudson Yards, Brookfield’s Manhattan West and other future development.

Microsoft, too, is being watched closely because its lease at 1290 Sixth Avenue expires in 2014 and needs at least 200,000 square feet.

---

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5341/7236934882_c5ac3ef1e9_h_d.jpg
Ken Lund (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/) at Flickr

The second crane is gone.

They say it is topped out by I didn't see a flag.

So it's topped out already?

Just another ho-hum design.
Next!

The second crane is gone.

They say it is topped out by I didn't see a flag.

Sorry, my bad. I went by it again today from the west side and the second crane was still there. Sorry for the lazy mistake.

Also, I'm not sure this is topped out yet. There is no flag up (the usual topping out signal in New York) and there are pieces of steel still going up.

So I am not sure what this projects status is.

Just another ho-hum design.
Next!

This sucks. What a wasted opportunity.

^^ It doesn't suck, it's elegant. This building can't get any more New York. Now if they built a Dubai-esque structure here, THEN it'd suck.

^^ It doesn't suck, it's elegant. This building can't get any more New York. Now if they built a Dubai-esque structure here, THEN it'd suck.

How is this building "New York"? It looks like equally lame structures being built in Chicago and Seattle. With all of the great new towers proposed in NY, this is a let down.

i don't understand why a lot of people love buildings like trump world tower or the siagram building but hate this one.

How is this building "New York"? It looks like equally lame structures being built in Chicago and Seattle. With all of the great new towers proposed in NY, this is a let down.

It's a square glass box, it's formal and mature. If there is a city that is defined by buildings of those descriptions, it's New York. It's like saying that the Trump World Tower, the United Nations HQ, and the countless other glass boxes in NYC are lame and in Chicago style. You want NYC to become Dubai or Moscow, with fancy, overdone structures? Well that isn't going to happen. And this building wasn't designed to be a spectacular feature on the skyline, it was designed for useful and high quality office space. It's a filler.

These people living in cities are spoiled beyond their imagination. They have to find flaws with every single high quality, visually appealing building they get. My city's tallest building is 85 meters and is abandoned. Just enjoy what you're getting and deal with it.

^^ I agree. This is the best box to be built in NYC since the 60s.

It's a square glass box, it's formal and mature. If there is a city that is defined by buildings of those descriptions, it's New York....

Hardly. Every city that built skyscrapers in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s built boxes. That was the style.

Something better could have been built here.

One of the first modern glass boxes (if not the first) came from NYC, the UN Headquarters. Other cities followed suit.

When I stated my opinion of this tower being ho-hum, I didn't mean that it "sucked", so please don't assume that.

I meant that this tower will simply blend in, that's all.
It's not about height, it's about style.
The Hearst Tower, for example, was designed well. The waterfall inside looks spectacular. Even 4 WTC looks better than this.

This is the type of tower I will walk by and not even notice. :dunno:

^^ Not every building is built to stand out!

From today, full update:

http://www.newyorkyimby.com/2012/05/construction-update-250-west-55th-gets.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Jeo0Nqvnk/T8ZXGgmaFOI/AAAAAAAABjs/rrgwSS0pZOw/s1600/2012-05-30+10.00.59.jpg

great filler for the skyline :cheers:

I like the lobby glass!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7338262592_b11d2fc704_h.jpg

Daniella Zalcman (http://www.flickr.com/photos/midnightquill/7338262592/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

:blahblah::blahblah::blahblah:..It does not matter who likes it or who hates it. It is built. Simply rate it with a poll and see what the results are...:grouphug:

Dawww, look at that little tree:lol:

For the poll I'd give it an 8/10

It's ugly bulding! Doesn't looks like 21 century building at all.

it amazes me how NYC still makes room for all these new buildings

From a few days ago:

http://www.newyorkyimby.com/2012/06/construction-update-250-west-55th-nears.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AuD13EYM4aE/T9jtKzlgKcI/AAAAAAAABpc/yL9mgzEfahY/s640/2012-06-10+19.38.53.jpg

Dawww, look at that little tree:lol:



the sign that is has reached the highest point. :)

wow, that was a really fast construction.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/kiko4/P1010494.jpg

Yesterday & full update:

http://www.newyorkyimby.com/2012/06/construction-update-midtown-rising-from.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jxx2XvXA7Ls/T-x_8JT4K6I/AAAAAAAAB34/vBNINJK-ZpM/s640/2012-06-27+16.23.01.jpg

I don't think 250W55 is bland at all. Looking at that picture, the cladding for this building draws my eyes more than any other building in that area.

It's a glass box. It looks fine in the sunlight but when it's cloudy it looks much less appealing. It's hard to explain until you see it for yourself.

^^ I've seen many buildings like it. I agree, in cloudy weather it will be less appealing.

Its a filler that how I look at it. At least give it a slightly more appeal to it. Maybe a cool design to fit with the Hearst Tower and One Worldwide Plaza

And before someone asks, the thread for 425 Park Ave (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1507946).

Boston Properties gets second large tenant for Midtown tower (http://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/07/03/boston-properties-gets-second-large-tenant-for-midtown-tower/)
July 03, 2012 01:00PM

http://therealdeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/half.jpg

"Boston Properties is on the verge of landing a second large tenant for its under-construction Midtown office tower in Kaye Scholer. Crain’s reported the law firm signed a letter of intent to move to 260,000 square feet at 250 West 55th Street from its current offices at 425 Park Avenue. The 1 million-square-foot new building is slated to open in 2014.

Scholer has agreed to pay an average of $85 and $90 per square foot over the course of a 20-year lease at the tower, located between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Scholer could not renew its lease at its Park Avenue building because its owner, L&L Holding, will be demolishing most of the building once all its leases have expired to build a new tower..."

It's ugly bulding! Doesn't looks like 21 century building at all.

What a load of BS. Seriously.:wtf::wtf::wtf:

Yesterday & full update:

http://www.newyorkyimby.com/2012/07/construction-update-250-west-55th-1715.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sepAJqPuYnA/T_ghbg6CwzI/AAAAAAAACMU/M6R3PzNKLBc/s640/20120705_202042.jpg

Nice, cladding has almost reached the top.
BTW is the base/lobby fully cladded yet?

To me at least NYC is not really about individual buildings, it's about the whole NYC skyline.
Some of the oil countries or Asian glass sculptures would look so out of place in NYC imo.


Sure that doesn't mean everything needs to be bland and a bit more character is welcome, but i still consider it a nice addition.

I think this building, and Trump World Tower are the boxy buildings in NYC that have the most character.

Took these a couple of hours ago

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/553/dscn5871j.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7800/dscn5875hs.jpg

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/6228/dscn5876i.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1527/dscn5879w.jpg

view from 8th avenue..
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8788/dscn5880n.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3268/dscn5881o.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9113/dscn5882f.jpg

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/5764/dscn5883.jpg

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/127/dscn5884zl.jpg

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/751/dscn5886g.jpg

From a hole in the ground in September to glass nearly reaching the top in July. Fantastic. Good progress on the hotel as well.

This building is simple, but good. Good fill... I like it. The coating is also good...

Anyway, nice shots! :banana:

Full update from yesterday:

http://www.newyorkyimby.com/2012/07/midtown-panorama-armada-of-new-towers.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nc7sr9C3ZXk/UAemLUgz4TI/AAAAAAAAClw/BpxrRfBM-iE/s640/20120718_192221.jpg

^^ Nice angle with a wall of towers in front of you. :)

This building's reflective facade can probably rival 4WTC's! :lol:

^^ It comes close. :)

Update from yesterday:

http://www.newyorkyimby.com/2012/07/construction-update-1715-broadway.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7UYNkdL3sg/UAnU8y7H-VI/AAAAAAAACs0/6ut10rjOc80/s640/20120719_174406.jpg