all right, its still pretty low but I found some pics of the foundation.
http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/731lexington_international_plaza_31aug02.jpg
http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/731lexington_bloomberg_58th_18may02.jpg

and there it is with Bloomingdale's
http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/731lexington_bloomingdales_18may02.jpg

and a view from Brooklyn and we're supposed to see the tower's cranes somewhere...
http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/queens_west_east_bloomberg_7dec02.jpg

how tall should the tower be?

well around 238m, or 780ft tall.
52 story high...
it should ave been around 260m but hey cutted it off.
The architects are Pelli and Assoc.
and it should be delivered by 2004

here's a rendering:

http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2002/01/136830.jpg

From the website:

"Bloomberg's new New York headquarters is rising on the former Alexander's site on 58th and Lexington Avenue. The developer, Vornado Realty Trust, began construction on the building in July 2001. Bloomberg estimates its occupancy to begin in January 2005. The building will reach more than 850 feet in height totaling 52 stories. Bloomberg will be the anchor tenant with more than 4000 New York employees, customer training and state-of-the-art broadcast facilities."

The height figures are confusing.

Very Pelli in design, similar idea to the proposed Grand Peir Tower for Chicago (different architects).

Joins other major Pelli associated towers in N.Y.C. such as those of the World Financial Centre.

This one looks more slender than Grand Pier.
Actually, the (dead ?) Chicago project was more ambitious.

It sure looks elegant!

btw whats that nice blue building in the 1st picture?

Interesting as you said Fabb that Bloomberg.com lists the height as 850'+ (It was originally supposed to be 870' so maybe it's back on track?)

anyway...... http://about.bloomberg.com/
http://images.bloomberg.com/corp/731lex.jpg?1043035944860

The concave "port-cochere" in the middle of the base (not shown) is looking pretty cool with it's skewed structure, I'll have to go take some pics.

Raffles, the cylindrical blue building is the International Plaza (750 Lexington Avenue) by Murphy Jahn, 1988, 473ft/144m.

Ahhh, here you can see the concave element at the base. The tower looks a little "stubby" in this rendering. Scouring the web I can only find the same pics we already have up at wirednewyork.com....... so little info on this project.

http://www.enclos.com/images/lexington_big.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/images/import/731LexingtonAvenue5-vi.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/images/import/731LexingtonAvenue4-vi.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/images/import/731LexingtonAvenue3-vi.jpg

I feel like it leaves a little to be desired, unfortunately. I would like to see more inventive stuff from Pelli; I'm getting worried.

Thanks for the info enzo! I've never seen that building before:cool:

This is a nice building IMO. I like the base. This buildings looks like it serves more then 1 function. I dont know, but I hope its mixed use. :D

This buildings looks like it serves more then 1 function. I dont know, but I hope its mixed use.

It is;). It's across the street from Bloomingdale's flagship store in a very popular shopping district. The base will hold yet another H&M (a Swedish dept. store, I think this will be the 4th in Manhattan). There will be other retailers, the HQ's for Bloomberg financial markets (owned by our "illustrious" Mayor-he was forced to cede control though while in office) and the top 1/2 of the tower will be $$$ condos.

Announced recently is another new condo tower (30-40 floors) to be built across the street from Bloomberg on 3rd Ave. No renderings are available yet but the site is being cleared.:D

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by enzo </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>
Announced recently is another new condo tower (30-40 floors) to be built across the street from Bloomberg on 3rd Ave. No renderings are available yet but the site is being cleared.:D</td></tr>
</table>

Another one?
for Bloomberg?

Nice, I like it.

Announced recently is another new condo tower (30-40 floors) to be built across the street

What a bad idea.
They should have built one taller.
Now, they'll cast shadow on each other.

Fabb it's a different land-owner, different developer and given the area there are already enough highrises and shadows to make that problem moot. We are talking about midtown of course.;)

It's okay but the tower is conservative in design, which seems to be the trend nowadays.

Here's a recent construction picture:

http://www.pbase.com/image/16738967.jpg

More Renderings:

http://www.mrofficespace.com/ob/pix//mh/md2189_cp.jpg

http://www.onebeaconcourt.com/blue2.jpg

Computer Models by Jon Seagull http://www.jonseagull.com/:

http://www.jonseagull.com/images/p_crystal01.jpg

http://www.jonseagull.com/images/p_crystal03.jpg

Copyright Holder: 7th Art Pictures

Production Notes:

A 3D model and presentation renderings of their project were in hand, but a client promoting their new luxury office/residential project in midtown Manhattan wanted a striking visual for their promotional material that conveyed the refinement they were seeking, quickly and on a budget.
By turning their existing model into a crystal sculpture, with the attendant play of light, a whole new way to experience their building presented itself.
The crystal graphics were incorporated as graphic elements in video, web, and print materials, providing an anchor for the building's identity.

In Newspaper:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid42/pcd4f00aead0b5a28ea057e080c3e819b/fcef5a1c.jpg

Live Webcam:

Go to:

http://about.bloomberg.com

then go to the left column towards the bottom and click "Watch the progress of our future New York headquaters." After that a pop up window should appear and a link for the live webcam should be there. It's great quality too.

I hope the facade has a lot of detail. Even if the building isn't very "shapely" having a nice facade can make up for it. Pelli's work on the Carnegie Hall Tower's facade was awesome. I love that building, infact it's in my top 5 of favorites in New York and I'm usually not a fan of Pelli either.

Looks like BoA Dallas, imo.

Bloomberg is going to be a great anchor for Manahattan north of the heart of Midtown. It will definitely stand out.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by KevinFromTexas </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I hope the facade has a lot of detail. Even if the building isn't very "shapely" having a nice facade can make up for it. Pelli's work on the Carnegie Hall Tower's facade was awesome. </td></tr>
</table>

I don't expect a lot of detail. Mostly reflective glass.

Posted by Stern at Wired New York (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/topic.cgi?forum=4&topic=20&start=220).


http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/Bloomberg1.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/Bloomberg2.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/Bloomberg3.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/Bloomberg4.jpg


Bloomberg Tower; stacking plan:

http://www.vnooffice.com/images/stacking-plan-731-Lex.gif

Ground Floorplan:

http://www.vnooffice.com/images/731-Lex-beacon-court.gif

oh yeah! another H&M. just what we need. :?

Construction Pictures from Wired NY:

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/bloomberg1.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/bloomberg2.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/bloomberg3.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/bloomberg4.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/bloomberg5.jpg

So is it officially taller than TWT or not? What's the latest?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Calilover89 </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>So is it officially taller than TWT or not? What's the latest?</td></tr>
</table>


Not taller that TWT.

I'm glad it's going up but a little sad for my daily view.

My subway stop is on Lexington way uptown and looking down the avenue every morning I've got the backside of Citicorp with a tad of slope showing and the Chrysler peeking out on the side. But Citicorp is set-back quite a bit from Lex while Bloomberg isn't, thus Citicorp is slowly being obscured as is its cool dychotomy with the Chrysler.

This tower had better be striking when completed or I'll be forced to sue!:D

oh yeah! another H&M. just what we need.

Seriously! What is up with that store......seems you have to be anorexic to shop in the men's dept. I'm a thin, tall guy but the clothes they offer could only be worn by bean-poles with no buttocks who are into mauve and fuscia. Well, it is Scandinavian!

It's the "Ikea" of clothing chains. They're going to have problems if they try to expand into the interior States, a pair of pants at H&M would be like a pair of socks to most big Texan guys!!

How tall will it be? Well, check out this elevation that Fabb posted earlier. The elevation drawing shows the roof at 849 feet 4 inches tall. The top floor, (occupied floor), will be at 803 feet 8 inches.
http://www.vnooffice.com/images/stacking-plan-731-Lex.gif

I agree about H&M. I'm tall and thin, too (6'1'', 150#) and I can find things to wear there BUT the sizing is all screwed up so you have to wait an hour for a dressing room only to find out that a small percentage of the stuff you know SHOULD fit, doesn't. I was gaga about the place when they first came to NY but now I almost never go. They have nice accessories, though, for very inexpensive prices. I much prefer French Connection. They're stuff is very flattering on tall, thin men, and the fabrics are lightyears beyond what H&M offers.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Naptown </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Looks like BoA Dallas, imo.</td></tr>
</table>

If only we were that lucky. Pelli has proven to disappoint this time. It's just another building.

I disagree, however, it does not look alike at all.

http://www.miduppertexas.com/dallas/bankofa.jpghttp://www.miduppertexas.com/dallas/bofapl-n.jpg
Bank of America Plaza, Dallas

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/Bloomberg4.jpghttp://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/Bloomberg2.jpg
Bloomberg Tower, New York (renderings)

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by UrbanLandscape </i></b> </smallfont>

It's just another building.

I disagree, however, it does not look alike at all.

</td></tr>
</table>

I agree it won't look like BOA Dallas.

I disagree though about the building. This building will look sharp, literally the edges will be amazing. The facade is still early to judge.

Though, at night I think it will look promising with the beam.

Well some of the renderings don't look all that great for sure. So far though I'd say the cladding on the base is looking sharp, so we'll have to wait and see what the cladding will really be like on the tower portion. The more "cartoonish" renderings though seem to ignore this "sharpness" while the older computer renderings show it distinctly.

Hopefully this will be a case of bland renderings not doing justice to the final product, at least we can hope!

one more pic and an article
http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/06/12/nyregion/bloc.468.jpg
June 12, 2003 "Reclusive Developer Conjures Accessible Space"
By DAVID W. DUNLAP

COULD it be that one of New York's more reclusive developers is building one of the city's most publicly accessible private spaces?

Grandly scaled "rooms" — courtyards, galleries and atriums — are defining new commercial towers, much as plazas once provided settings for skyscraping corporate icons. Unlike plazas, however, these interior spaces are not technically public. Some will be more welcoming than others.

Though Steven Roth, the chairman of Vornado Realty Trust, stays out of the public eye, it appears that the elliptical courtyard of his project at 731 Lexington Avenue will invite the public with open arms. This mixed-use development between 58th and 59th Streets has been designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates, architects of the Winter Garden at Battery Park City.

The courtyard at 731 Lexington Avenue received the blessing of Michael R. Bloomberg before he became mayor, the architects said. Because the headquarters of Bloomberg L.P. will wrap around the courtyard, Mr. Bloomberg visited the Pelli office in New Haven to inspect renderings and models.

"Bloomberg himself was quite captivated by the idea of the space," said Rafael Pelli, a principal in the firm that bears his father's name. "No one knew how he'd react, because it came at the cost of larger floors. But he loved it. He saw how it could bring personality to the project."

Its personality might be described as a distantly abstract kin of the tiny piazzas that punctuate the dense urban fabric of Venice. But in this stainless-steel-and-glass version, there is not a right angle to be seen. The curving walls are gently canted inward, seven-and-a-half degrees, as they rise 110 feet. That tapering perspective forces one's gaze skyward. Stepping into this upside-down bowl is pleasantly disorienting, as if one had been momentarily liberated from Manhattan's orthogonal grid.

Architectural bravura alone does not distinguish the space, however. Its utility will come from having openings at both ends, meaning that pedestrians and some vehicles will be able to pass through from 58th to 59th Street most of the time.

"That is what makes it truly public," Cesar Pelli said. "If it were a dead end, people wouldn't come in. They would think it was a private court."

As a further lure, the courtyard's north portal frames an inviting view of the noblest portion of Bloomingdale's hybrid facade: grand, arched window bays in an 1893 midblock annex on 59th Street.

Formally designated Beacon Court, the open space at 731 Lexington Avenue amounts to 12,683 square feet. Bloomberg headquarters will fill the base of the building, running to Third Avenue. There will be apartments in the upper 24 floors of the 55-story, 813-foot tower on the Lexington Avenue side. Completion is expected next year. A spokesman for Vornado said the project had not received any economic incentives or tax abatements from the city.

The courtyard idea started as a drive-through passage, Rafael Pelli said, and kept getting bigger. He said Mr. Roth loved the idea. (Mr. Roth, customarily keeping his own counsel, declined to be interviewed.)

Beacon Court's crosstown rival will be the Great Room of the AOL Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Behind a 150-foot wall of sheer glass, this 8,000-square-foot hall leads to an 11,000-square-foot gallery extending north and south, following the curve of Columbus Circle. It will not open until October, so it is too early to say whether this space will feel like a vibrant shop-lined street or more like an aisle in a mall.

Far more private will be the 34,000-square-foot, 70-foot-high atrium in the headquarters tower designed by Foster & Partners for the Hearst Corporation, to rise within and above the landmark Hearst Magazine Building on Eighth Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets. This third-floor space will generally be closed to the public, though visitors will be able to glimpse it from the lobby.

EVEN more private will be the 4,900-square-foot courtyard within the future headquarters of The New York Times Company on Eighth Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets, designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Fox & Fowle. This space, filled with birch trees, will be closed to everyone, though visible through glass walls from the ground floor and The Times's newsroom above.

Of course, judging any space under construction is risky. At Beacon Court, much will depend on whether security measures are imposing or inconspicuous and on whether comings and goings from Bloomberg headquarters, the apartments and a restaurant will help animate a spartan volume.

The architects are willing to let it evolve. "The idea," Rafael Pelli said, "is to let this space become what it wants to be over time."


Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company

A new larger rendering of a previously released one:

http://nysr.com/nysr/supportdata/itm_img/grohs1.jpg

thats one beautiful building.

I love the glass

Here's a Bloomberg Tower construction update.

Thanks to Gulcrapek.

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/album09/blmjul.sized.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/album09/blmjul2.jpg

Check out the sharp angles:

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/album09/blmjul3.sized.jpg

cool, i like it

Well, I still think that 7WTC (although it's still not fantastic) is crisper and cleaner looking.

^7WTC is a trapezoidal glass box with no articulations, plain and simple. It has no podium, no inner court no lower companion building and as of now exists only as a few slick renderings. It's impossible to tell how it will relate to the streetscape which means a lot to the success of a Manhattan tower. I can see liking it if you're a box fanatic but otherwise......

In all seriousness, we have no idea what 7WTC will really look like since everything released has been vague.....and they obviously are not done designing it considering how long construction has lingered on the substation and foundation. And of course the payoff for such a simple design on the skyline is all dependant on the glass-color, transparancy and night illumination, and we all know how miserably that can fail.

Bloomberg is a much more complex undertaking than 7WTC and with each new floor added while lower ones are glazed it is looking better and better.........better than any rendering I've seen of it.

Thanks for those pics savethewtc!

BTW-here's 7WTC as vaguely proposed;
http://www.cgarchitect.com/upclose/JK/SOM-7WTC-02.jpg

http://www.cgarchitect.com/upclose/JK/SOM-7WTC-01.jpg

Hey enzo,

New 7 WTC rendering have been released check them out:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50226

Bloomberg Tower is going to look way better than the new 7 WTC IMO. I've never seen such sharp angles as setbacks, they are stunning! The night view will be great too with the "beam" lit up. Pelli has done it again!

By the way I like the new 7 WTC too, don't get me wrong.

From live webcam:

http://images.bloomberg.com/corp/731lex.jpg?1058564844330

For live video of the construction go to:

http://about.bloomberg.com/731lex.html

Here's a recent construction picture I found:

http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/07/206837.jpg

Just what New York needs, another skyscraper! :D

But this one is sleek and shiny. I'm sure it'll stand out in the skyline.

wow, nice tower!

Yea, the Bloomberg Tower is more than just another skyscraper. I can't imagine a skyscraper that relied so heavily on such simplicity in it's hot colored glass facade while having such sharp angles at the edges. Wait at night, the beam is a great addition, as well as the atrium at the base. This is a truly unique skyscraper by Pelli, I think it'll be underrated when completed.

well hopefully I will see it for real in 28 days time as Im coming to the big apple :)

OMG, check out this closeup aerial!

http://www.earthcam.net/graphics/gallery/megapixel/latest/bloombergev.jpg

Here's a construction update.

All photos and credit to Gulcrapek

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/album21/b.sized.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/album21/b3.sized.jpg

Another update from gripja:

http://home.att.net/~jim721/wsb/media/182489/site1077.jpg

It's quite tall already, isn't it? :)

It's gotten ALOT taller now and construction looks like it's really picking up.

I got a picture of it from the ESB webcam:

http://home.1asphost.com/savethewtc/bloomcon.jpg

I think it is a nice building I can't wait to see it when it's done

Let's see how this glass box will look when it is done! ;)

I took this this morning before it started raining:
http://home.1asphost.com/savethewtc/bloom3mtk.jpg

It's looking tall now and great! I want to see how the beam turns out.

BTW, I uploaded the pic to an account of mine for you 3mtk, the pic shows now.

Update thanks to NYatNight at WNY:

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/NYatKNIGHT/CandB.sized.jpg

When completed it should be around where the top of the crane is.

I LOVE the Bloomberg Tower. I am really happy to see it coming along to. It is by far one of my top glass skyscrapers in the world. Great photos guys. The rock.

Last tuesday, there was a Swedish science-program for kids called "Hjärnkontoret" (means "the Brainoffice"), where they were at the Bloomberg Tower in NYC and talked about skyscrapers.

NY POST

VORNADO'S ROTH GETS LAST LAUGH

By STEVE COUZZO

November 25, 2003 -- IT took Vornado CEO and Chairman Steve Roth a decade to develop the old Alexander's site - a decade in which he put up with sniping from all sides over his seeming indecisiveness.

So now that Vornado's gleaming, 55-story tower - with its unique, block-through courtyard across from Bloomingdale's - is almost finished, does the man once dubbed the "Hamlet of Lexington Avenue" feel vindicated?

"Vindication is not a word I think of," Roth said good-naturedly when I reminded him that this page had been among the doubters.

As head of a huge, publicly traded REIT with shareholders to think of, Roth said: "We're business people. We do things methodically and by the numbers. We knew we had a great asset at a unique spot, and we weren't going to do transactions prematurely that wouldn't get us the values we eventually expected to get.

Roth earned his "Hamlet" headline after Vornado bought control of Alexander's Inc. in 1991. He demolished the shuttered store in 1998, and then pondered what to do with the full-block crater until he signed up then-private citizen Michael Bloomberg's media company as anchor tenant in spring 2001.

Today Roth, far from being unable to make up his mind, looks more like Fortinbras: the patient, determined warrior-strategist who wins in the end.

The project also catapults Vornado, the city's biggest commercial landlord, into the ranks of its big-league developers, and brings Bloomingdale's country a signature skyline element.

Roth said it was "obvious" that the deals for the site available to Vornado in the 1990s "were not going to ring the bell.

"Remember the auction houses?" he added - a reference to flirtations with Sotheby's and Christie's. "Notwithstanding pressures to do things prematurely, I have pretty strong convictions about what's right arithmetically."

The arithmetic of 731 Lexington includes its $630 million development cost and a $490 million construction loan from Hypo Vereinsbank.

Besides the Bloomberg offices, the tower boasts a stack of 105 deluxe condo apartments and 155,000 square feet of retail.

The most dramatic feature of architect Cesar Pelli's design is what Roth called its "grand gesture" - the mid-block courtyard linking 58th and 59th streets with lobbies for Bloomberg and the apartments. A space of sinuous curves and glass facades, it rises to an oval top, open to the sky much like the Pantheon in Rome.

The tower's 1.3 million square feet include 695,000 for Bloomberg's headquarters and about 180,000 feet of spec offices on floors 20 to 28, which Newmark's Barry Gosin - who repped Bloomberg in his epic negotiation with Roth - has been tapped to market.

Bloomberg loves aquariums, and Bloomberg L.P.'s sixth-floor "winter garden" lobby looks like an aquarium itself, with curved, floor-to-ceiling aquamarine glass that wraps over and around the courtyard.

According to Vornado's SEC filing, Bloomberg, under a 25-year lease, will pay base annual rent of $34.53 million for each of the first four years - about $49.68 a foot. It rises to $38.53 million in the fifth year, with a "similar percentage increase" every fourth year after that.

Bloomberg's decision to take nearly 700,000 feet - not 400,000 it had earlier sought - got the project off the ground after false starts that included schemes for department stores and a hotel.

Roth, with some amusement, said, "We still have 100 models of different buildings as the ideas changed - the tower on Third Avenue vs. the tower on Lexington; multiple towers and much lower buildings with no towers at all."

So why was the tall tower ultimately built on the Lexington side?

"Two reasons," Roth said. "It's a better office address. And it's 400 feet closer to Central Park" - no small issue for buyers of the apartments on floors 30 to 54, atop the offices.

"We've created a 24-story apartment house on the pedestal of our office building," Roth said. "They start at about 500 feet and rise to almost 800 feet," with spectacular views all around.

The building has a retail face, too: a 27,000 square-foot H&M store at the corner of Lexington and 59th; and a vast Home Depot Expo Design Center store, with 73,253 square feet on the concourse level and 4,462-square-foot street-level entrance.

About 50,000 square feet of stores are yet to be spoken for. All will open onto the avenues or streets, with one exception: an eye-popper of a restaurant inside the courtyard, sheathed in sloping glass under a 40-foot ceiling. The 7,000-square-foot eatery, yet to be leased, will fill the entire eastern curve of the courtyard.

Bloomberg and the stores won't move in until next year. But even unfinished, the tower's gleaming curtain wall is already a distinctive skyline presence - an effect achieved in part by using the least-reflective glass possible.

Roth said, "It's designed to glisten in the skyline. The white stripes give it a horizontal accent that makes it - what's the word? - dimensional. Right now it's dark, but when it's occupied it will take on a life of its own."

http://www.nypost.com/photos/biz11250334.jpg

SKY HIGH: For Vornado boss Steve Roth, patience has paid off with the Bloomberg tower, seen through its atrium roof above.

Update from skyscrapers.com:

http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/11/229457.jpg

Today from the ESB tower-cam:
http://live7.truelook.com/timages/live7/strends/NorthView/imgbuf/buf_567/1070183276741884.jpg

Update from skyscrapers.com:

http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/12/236456.jpg

This one is from Edward at Wired New York:

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/bloomberg_tower_25dec03.jpg

As of today about one more floor of office space is left then comes the 6 story beam.

It looks like that Bloomberg is very close to a top-out. The crown work should begin soon.

I predict that this tower will make more of a positive impact on the city as a whole that our current 'mayor';) .

Update from TowersNYC:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4df20b3127cce8514b084f05b0000001510

Nice updated photos. Those look awsome. Love the building! :)

So would this be a mixed use or simply a commercial complex?

Originally posted by The Game Is Up

So would this be a mixed use or simply a commercial complex?

Welcome to the forums! :cool:

The complex is going to be mixed use including retail, office and residentials.

Take a look at this picture for more details:

http://www.vnooffice.com/images/stacking-plan-731-Lex.gif

How many square feet will the building be?

yippee. I didn't know there would be an Expo Design Store in there. Another H&M we can do without, though. There are two now on Broadway in SoHo, just blocks from each other, the same ridiculousness that put two on 34th, one at the corner of 7th, one at Broadway.

The 6-7 story crown/beam is now underway!

Yippie, soon it will be topped-out!! :cheers:

I am not sure, guys. Although the idea that it is being built is great, and the location is pretty good, the tower itself is a bit boring and sort of old-fashioned looking. It has all been done before...

Originally posted by Marco Polo

I am not sure, guys. Although the idea that it is being built is great, and the location is pretty good, the tower itself is a bit boring and sort of old-fashioned looking. It has all been done before...

You think so?

I thought it was original, especially the shape, the tower's sharp angles and the beam at the top. The facade is glassy but I think there's something special with the one used on the Bloomberg Tower.

Which tower does it remind you of?

I know the base is different - I grant you that, but the tower itself is not so hot (imho). There are just so many similar buildings in many cities...

By Edward at Wired New York (http://www.wirednewyork.com) dated February 8.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/bloomberg_citigroup_queens_8feb04.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/731lexington/images/bloomberg_citigroup_queens_west_8feb04.jpg

nice, reall nice :):guns1:

Yesterday, up Lexington Avenue

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Gulcrapek/blm.sized.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Gulcrapek/blm2.sized.jpg

that is just awsome one of my dreams is live in new york :) really nice photos :)

Great pics, Gulcrapek.

From those pics the tower soars so smoothly from street level and the larger setback at the middle of the tower seems gentle, but yet the setbacks cause those stunningly sharp lines at the sides of the tower.

I really like how the facade turned out on the tower, it's simple, glassy, shiny and I love the color of the facade that appears in the skyline.

It doesn't look like there's any facade for the beam yet, it should be interesting how that will turn out.

I've been wondering what architectural style the tower is? I thought it was modern, but skyscrapers.com lists it as post modern? I don't think it looks like post modern that much.

I found this one at s.com, it's dated 1/30 so it's a bit old but still great.


http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2004/02/243440.jpg

Wow, soon to be topped-out, huh? :)

That's a nice photo! I like this tower alot, great addition to NYC skyline.

Did anyone check out the tower recently?

I passed by it today coming off the Queensborough bridge into Manhattan and it looked topped out with a very flat roof.

Also around how many stories is the lower tower? I'd guess around 12-15 stories? I'm surprised how much of an impact the smaller portion of the tower makes.

I think it's 10.

here's my addition from 27/2
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/pX3Xp3/2004_0227Image0004_Bloomberg_Tower.JPG

nice photo

I'd rather have that spectacular building for NYC 'mayor' than the current one. :cheers:

Pics dated February 28 taken by NYatKNIGHT

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/NYatKNIGHT/tram_4.sized.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/NYatKNIGHT/roos_island_3.sized.jpg

Unfortunately it's topped-out allready....

But the result would be awesome....

that is a very nice adition to the skyline and i think it s a very nice wiev

Taken on February 29:

http://www.queenswest.com/neighborhood/pictures/rockrose/20040229_rockrose_1.jpg?display=

Check this out! :eek:

http://www.earthcam.net/graphics/gallery/megapixel/latest/bloombergev.jpg

Funny how no one even notices that little residential tower in the foreground.

I did ;) . At WNY I have a link to one of my galleries and there's a shot of it somewhere down the avenue east of Lexington.

The Beautiful Bloomberg Tower has been topped.

All photos by me, Carlos on Saturday, April 10th , 2004

enjoy ;)


as seen from 3rd avenue

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_003.jpg




close up

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_002.jpg




as seen from 59th st and 3rd

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_004.jpg




detail, ground floor

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_005.jpg




inner courtyard, Bloomingdale's in the background!

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_008.jpg




as seen from Lexington Avenue

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_013.jpg




close up of crown

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/041004_016.jpg

Beautiful Tower! How tall is this?

856 ft.

It's good to see progress coming along on the crown with some of the facade being placed, though it's hard to pass a judgement on it at this point.

The facade is just like Bank of America Plaza's in Dallas...kinda
http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/bankofa.jpg

This pic is by alv1, taken from his NY Pics thread:

http://img52.photobucket.com/albums/v158/alv01/Viaje_NYC_106.jpg

Notice the facade on the left portion of the crown becoming visible.

Today, April 27th from the ESB:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404bloombergtower4271.jpg

Notice the progress on the crown.

Nice looking tower, and very nice height as well. It seems I'm becoming quite a sucker for glass as of late, so I'm definately diggin it. I'm also looking foward to seeing how the crown turns out with the whole thing. Shaping up to being a nice addition to the skyline. :)

Taken today, April 28 from the ESB.

Closeups of the crown:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404bloomcrown428.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404bloomcrown2428.jpg

In the skyline with Citigroup:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404bloomsky428.jpg

coolio

Ohhh sweet! And what about Coolio Wolkenkrabber?? Is he gonne make a new album? ;)

The contrasting blue glass facade combined with its height (it's just a bit shorter, like 8m, than Trump if I'm not mistaken) is going to make a huge impact on the skyline.

I thought I'd post these photos over here too. Taken on 4/30.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/24042004_0430Image0007.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/24042004_0430Image0009.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/24042004_0430Image0011.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/24042004_0430Image0010.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/24042004_0430Image0012.JPG

Because the tower is named after Mayor Bloomberg's company, I say that it should receive official Royal status as the residence of the Emperor of North America's greatest city. In fact Bloomberg himself should take residence in the top floor of the building after they redeveloped it into a penthouse. Then all New Yorkers should start thinking of the tower as a modern day fortified castle and bring regular tributes to their mayor. :cheers:

As the construction is nearing the end, I decided to post these pics:
The First I ever took of the tower, taken on 9/11/2003:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/pX3Xp3/a.JPG
And the latest I took, taken on April the 28th, 2004 of course:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/pX3Xp3/aa.JPG
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/pX3Xp3/aaaa.JPG
and a close up, too big for 56Ks:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/pX3Xp3/aaa.JPG
notice the flag on the top floor!

Cool pics, 3tmk! I really like the second one, how you can see the tower in relation to the Chrysler building all the way in the distance. :)

wOOt!

sure looks tall from that angle! :eek:

Look at how much of a baby it was on 9/11 last year, I remember seeing it when it was only like 10 stories and now going back to the same spot months later, it's so impressive seeing the difference in impact.

Great shots 3tmk!

Where was the second one taken from?

Hey, what other pics do you have for us?! :D

well I have more but they doesn't deserve attention, just shots from here and there.
As for the second shot, I really love that one too, I went to the 8th floor of the Hunter College for a ceremony for freshmen, and when on the terrace, I took a couple of pics, but that one was the best.

well I have more but they doesn't deserve attention, just chots from here and there.
As for the second shot, I really love that one too, I went to the 8th floor of the Hunter College for a ceremony for freshmen, and when on the terrasse, I took a couple of pics, but that one was the best.

Hey, any shots posted are deserving of attention here!

I wonder how a picture of the tower would look from the Hunter skybridge.

BTW, according to skyscrapers.com, their team went to the construction site and checked out the blueprints of the tower and concluded it's 806 feet (height from sidewalk) rather than the previously listed 856 feet. (height from sea level)

Here's the explanation posted at SSP:

The simple explaination for the Bloomberg Tower descrepancy, was that the 856 ft. elevation was taken from the blueprints without paying attention to the elevation at the ground level, which was around 50 ft. If there is any consolation, there will be an antenna added to the Bloomberg Tower, which should bring the total height to approximately 942 ft.

antenna? I wonder what it will look like

antenna? I wonder what it will look like

I really really hope not. I like the flat roof and our skyline is getting too crowded with antennas and spires.

The only diagram I ever saw of the tower with an antenna is this old one from the developer's website thanks to Stern.

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/albums/Stern/3_G.sized.jpg

Looks horrible, keep it flat!

I really like the tower without the antenna too, it's too flat to get a spire, and it seems better this way.
But maybe it won't be visible, it might be too thin or it will blend with the background. Let's hope it won't be seen

WOW :eek:

This one was taken on 5/25 by phxmania2001:

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/532/482blmbrgpan5:25.jpg

Wow! I like that pic very much! Bloomberg is a great addition to the skyline!

Citycorp is great from this angle!

wow, that one is awesome :eek:

hurray for bloomberg!!! this thing is ten times better than trump's black box. can't wait to see it the next time i visit nyc.

5/29 from skyscrapers.com:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404268019.jpg

Check this out! :eek:

Aerial of it from May 29:

http://cakili.image.pbase.com/image/29509311/large.jpg

This tower really is some true class! Look at that! :drool: The facade is so reflective! :D

nice upgrade!

nice update!

You don't really realize that this part of Midtown lacks colour until you see a blue glass tower contrasting the surrounding skyline. I'm almost envious that despite its shorter height it could be as much of a landmark tower as Citicorp is because of its facade.

Wow that looks great, has it topped out yet? save me looking on s.com :)

Wow that looks great, has it topped out yet? save me looking on s.com :)

Yup, it's topped out at 806 feet/246 meters.

Another great one for the city!

It seems to blend in so well but still manages to stand out due to its color :cool:

You gotta love the facade, plus it fits in well with the skyline:cool:

actually it goes pretty well with that short blue building across the street, the colors aren't the same but it still blends well.

I wish they had just added the 50 feet they were suppose to, to top out at 856'!!

This recent shot found at SSP shows off the antenna...

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/532/4978bloomy1.jpg

I don't think I'm liking it, not sure at the moment.

i don't like the antenna either...

that building's meant to be a box, and sticking a pole on it is just totally lame...

dammm that antenna sucks major time!!! :( It ruines te tower IMHO! Get it off there! The facade is stunning beautifull and what they do; they put up such a stupid thing high above.!!! GRRR :rant: :(

well to keep positive, at least it isn't a big antenna like the Conde Nast, we might not even be able to see it if we're far away enough

well to keep positive, at least it isn't a big antenna like the Conde Nast, we might not even be able to see it if we're far away enough

Bad news, it is visible. The tower looked very good flat topped, now check out how the antenna sticks out...

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/532/482blmbrg7:16.jpg

(Thanks to phxmania2001 for the pic)

well it's sure that with that light, we can see it.
I don't know who gave the idea, but it was a bad one.
Is it a transmission antenna, or just an ornamental spire?
Maybe we could get a petition down to City Hall and get it down. :D

I like the antenna, but that's just my opinion.

here's how it looks from Central Park, from the reservoir, westside, looking southeast:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/TM4sk/2004_0812Image0004.JPG
Check the panorama at the other thread.

Thanks for the shot.

The antenna is an horrible, horrible addition, it has made me like the tower less and less, I used to be real high on the tower too. Other than that, it's a beauty.

The tower is finished now yes? is it already possible to go inside? In my country I always sneak into towers when they are still under contruction, then It's no problem. I would love to see some pics of the inside, the roof and the view from inside the Bloomberg Tower.

it seems taller than the Citicorp center

The tower is finished now yes? is it already possible to go inside? In my country I always sneak into towers when they are still under contruction, then It's no problem. I would love to see some pics of the inside, the roof and the view from inside the Bloomberg Tower.
try sneaking here, they'll shoot you down! :lol:
anyway, I'm getting afraid, with all these guys arrested because they were taking pictures of skyscrapers, if the FBI catches me, with my pictures of bridges and towers, or the Water treatment plant at Ward's Island, I'm destined to go to Guantanamo! :D

try sneaking here, they'll shoot you down! :lol:
anyway, I'm getting afraid, with all these guys arrested because they were taking pictures of skyscrapers, if the FBI catches me, with my pictures of bridges and towers, or the Water treatment plant at Ward's Island, I'm destined to go to Guantanamo! :D

lol - You said it. I wouldn't even try sneaking into an under construction skyscraper here, if you're caught, you're screwed. There's plenty of security and construction workers too, it would be hard to sneak in.

I get kind of hesitant taking skyscraper pics too these days, but hey, if you're not doing anything wrong, you don't got anything to be scared of right? :D

Actually, I walked into the Bloomberg Tower when I saw this guy in there. I was walking by after taking shots of it, then saw the actual blueprints through the window, so I walked in and asked the guy (who was a contractor he said) if I could take a picture or two of them. He said that he was just borrowing them and that he didn't want to get in trouble, so basically he said no in a nice way. He then asked why I would want a picture of the blueprints and I told him that it was for a skyscraper website (even told him the link of SSC) and he said something like "oh."

I did find something out though, that portion where I walked in, a bank is going to be created there with 22 foot slab ceilings!

Well, you can always ask the boss of construction for permission. Anyway, when I come to NY I will go inside some high towers and take some amazing photos :)

Well, you can always ask the boss of construction for permission. Anyway, when I come to NY I will go inside some high towers and take some amazing photos :)

Try getting in contact with the boss! I hope you ask them before you can go up, since if you don't it'll be considered trespassing.

Two pics of Bloomberg Tower from my trip in May:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/bloomberg2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/astro_miffo/bloomberg1.jpg

I like the antenna, but that's just my opinion.
I agree. I don't always like antennas, but I really felt this building needed one. The top of the building looked unfinished.
I don't like the antenna atop Conde Nast. It's too tall and doesn't seem to fit. And the antennas atop the Sears tower are awful.
I thought the antenna atop WTC North Tower made the towers much better visibly.
So, sometimes I like them and sometimes I don't.

Awesome tower. Is the tower taller than citygroup?

no, it appears to be taller on many points of the city, but it isn't.
Citicorp is 279m while Bloomie is 246m tall

I remember the tower used to be listed on skyscrapers.com at around 260 m, which is what it appears like in many of the photos. Perhaps that different coloured band of glass protrudes somewhat above the actual roof of the building, which is why the official height was lowered.

very nice tower
when is it scheduled for completion?

Isn't it already finished? I think they just need to finish the inside.

The last couple of nights the crown has been lit up at night, look out for that!

Here's an interesting shot of the tower from rion.nu (http://www.rion.nu/)

http://www.rion.nu/v5/post/100504/IMG_4087lg.jpg

I was just over around the Yankee stadium and I noticed that they lit up the tower's crown!
Unfortunately I didn't have a cam with me, but the view was awesome, with the ESB in blue, and Bloomie with a light green crown, and there's a red ligth on top of the antenna! So overall, with the two blinking red lights from the ESB and Bloomberg, the view was a-ma-zing! Next time I'm there I won't forget my cam, but until then, does any of you have a pic? The skyline has been greatly improved IMO with the tower.

Yea, I've seen the tower with the crown lighting alot now, I think it's up everyday, just never had the cam with me to take a shot of it. The crown is amazing I agree, it looks so clean, organized and uniform.

The red blinking lights at the tip of the antenna remind me so much of the WTC's.

Here's grabs from the ESB webcam:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404bloomcitilights.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/2404bloomcrown.jpg

^pretty neat!
We'll just need to wait for the works to finish to get the outside elevator or whatever the name out of sight.

and here are a few pics taken the last couple of weeks, check the rest on my random collection:
from the roof garden:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/TM4sk/randoms/2004_1012Image0022.JPG

Awesome! It's about time Midtown got an extension in that direction and it's about time its crown is lit up! Can't wait to see it myself, promises to look badass! And with Bear Stearns, Conde Nast antenna, Westin Hotel and other stuff I can't think of the night skyline has really changed since 2000. Great news that the classic postcards are getting outdated!

great building

Annyone has better pictures of the bloomberg tower at night??

Annyone has better pictures of the bloomberg tower at night??

Don't worry I'll get a grab of it, not sure when.

That antenna fucking sucks. Is it staying there?

That antenna is pretty bad. It looks like part of a construction crane was just left up there. Its a good looking building though

That antenna fucking sucks. Is it staying there?

God I hope not, but all indications lean toward it staying.

I thought I'd repost this picture by BigMac from the Amazing pics of Manhattan thread, it shows Bloomberg's crown lit up nicely:

http://pictures.unwiredny.com/Pictures/Constr_BT/00621l.jpg

The antenna doesn't look so bad at night, it's the day view that's the problem.

I saw Bloomberg lit up today (when going home from a Halloween party across from like 20 miles into NJ). The tower looks badass!
Savethewtc, that night pano looks awesome too. I love NYC skyline views from Queens, esp with the suped up night skyline featuring TWT, Bear Stearns, Conde Nast Antenna and now Bloomberg.

^looks great!
I have to find one from Uptown though, especially after the NYTT and the BoA are built, it will be a skyline of red dots :D

I never really see the tower lit, I always see it when I'm at school because its right down the street...it looks good looking down lexington

I think they built it pretty fast, the base looks pretty ugly to me

I don't have a camera but I should get a digital one so I can take pictures of all this stuff.

I think in the daytime it looks nice from far away...

3mtk, you took those pics from the roof of the met? or your garden? (and if your garden...daaaaaammmmmmmnnn homey)

the roof of the met, I'm pretty sure having a garden on 5th avenue is a little too expensive for me ;)
They should build a tower right in the middle of Central park, even though it will never happen, I'm sure it will look pretty good

belvedere castle anyone?

That antenna fucking sucks. Is it staying there?

I think it looks great, especially in the night photo with the top in yellow (or light green ) and the red light atop the antenna.
I don't like all antennas. The one on Conde Nast is too tall. But the one on Bloomberg looks really nice to me, and I'm glad to see it's still there.

belvedere castle anyone?
do you mean that meteorological house right behind the Shakespeare theater? If yes, you're right, but it should be a little higher, something that can be seen from further away, something like the Two towers in the LoTR. Or whatever, I'm bored from waiting the results in Ohio and Pennsylvania :D

check out this one, not good quality, but only a few came out right:
http://www.techimage.net/getimg.php?img=2004_1106Image0051.JPG

Could someone post a good picture taken very recently of Bloomburg Tower? I was in New York in July and all the pictures still look like they were taken then. Thanks.

Could someone post a good picture taken very recently of Bloomburg Tower? I was in New York in July and all the pictures still look like they were taken then. Thanks.

Some of these are recent, you just might not notice the change.

Anyway, check back next week after the meet, we're probably going to give it a visit.

Update...

Taken during the NYC meet on November 13. The sun shining added a nice effect I think:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3196/24042004_1113Image0063.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3196/24042004_1113Image0068.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3196/24042004_1113Image0069.JPG

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/3196/24042004_1113Image0070.JPG

looks awesome!
I really like the crown and it's light blue/white color. Unique

nice pics Jack!! :cool:

Hot damn! :) That's one beautiful tower! I especially like the sun reflecting off of the top. :) The crown is breathtaking as well.

WOW! Pic 2 and 3 are amazing!

Those pics are awesome. I wish I could go back and see it. How much do you think those condos are going for?

More pics found at pbase...

Dated December 4...(I'll post the original version - shows some nice details)

http://www.pbase.com/wedgwood/image/37136026/original.jpg

December 12...

http://www.pbase.com/wedgwood/image/37427207/large

http://www.pbase.com/wedgwood/image/37427285

http://www.pbase.com/wedgwood/image/37427329

Oh.... my.... goodness. That tower is an absolute beauty. Congratulations to New York for another magnificent scraper.

Come on Cardiff, only about a thousand to go till we catch up....

You could see the tower's crown lit up well in this picture:

http://www.pbase.com/rfcd100/image/38155301/original.jpg

Great pic! :okay:

AWESOME!
do you got a bigger version of the pic?
This is Wallpaper worthy ;)

hmm i like citigroup better :) never saw it that way

Beautiful pic. So is the tower purely office, or are there apartments in it too?

no, it's retail on the first floors, then some offices, but it's mostly residential

woa, nice pic!

nice picture!! :cool:

the crown's nice, but the antenna dampens its effect a bit...

citigroup still looks better!

^^nah, the antenna MAKES the effect--

a perfect tip of the cap to it's mighty two-red-antennaed citicorp neighbor

looks really nice

^^nah, the antenna MAKES the effect--

a perfect tip of the cap to it's mighty two-red-antennaed citicorp neighbor

citicorp does not have antennas. the two red aircraft warning lights are just showing the corners of the triangular sloped roof.

i just find a building that tries to have a crown and a spire/antenna at the same time to be a bit architectually inharmonious. at least bloomberg's antenna is not too visible...

again...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0052.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0062.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0066.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0069.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0070.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0072.jpg
\/ the tower in the front was home to the Bloomberg company, they're moving from there
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0073.jpg
btw, have you noticed how the lexington side has blue... let's say 'lines', while the east side has white :? I just noticed them as I watched the pics!

Thanks alot for the update 3tmk! Looks like the construction cranes are coming down:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0129Image0052.jpg

Bad news is that it doesn't seem like they're taking that antenna down with them.

The line color differences must be that the protective covering of the facade wasn't removed yet on that part of the building. At first I liked the blue lines better, but now it seems the white gives it a greater cleaner and newer feel.

The scaffolding is coming down and is coming down quick!

^yes, I saw it today and it's at least 10 floors lower than what I pictured above last week! :runaway:
well it's been kinda staying too long IMO anyway

Great, then I can see this tower in its full glory next week! :banana:

about time they start removing that construction elevator structure! now all they have to do is to strip the facade in that region of the blue protection tape, and the building'll be all done.

dang it, take the cheap-looking antenna down with it!!!

From pbase dated Feb. 11:

http://www.pbase.com/wedgwood/image/39681206/large.jpg

Argh! I love it! The glass just looks so awesome in that last pic.

Looks brilliant!

So what is the official height?

i believe the official height of the building stands at 246m, just a tad bit shorter than metlife.

Couple of pics I took a week ago:

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/3267/picture9718de.jpg

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/7370/picture9700gc.jpg

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/7392/picture9690xo.jpg

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/9427/picture9680dm.jpg

Why does this tower just look better every picture? With the base offices lit up like that it just looks amazing! :)

its not my favorite...

It stays no doubt one of the better towers in New York City!
I love it!

Wow thank you guys for all those lovely pics.This is definitely the best new addition to the midtown skyline!!
i just love this building's facade

Nice article on the tower...

Newsday

Where the sky is no limit
Rafael Pelli's new East Side tower features a piazza that's wondrous from the bottom up

BY JUSTIN DAVIDSON
STAFF WRITER

March 23, 2005

If you've been driving into Manhattan over the Queensborough Bridge in recent weeks, you might have noticed the scaffolding peeling away from a pale, silvery new tower with a gentle twilight halo.

That's 731 Lexington Ave., aka the Bloomberg Tower, a building with a demure skyline presence that grows funkier and more assertive as it moves down. This is a tower with its soul in the street.

Its heart is a cobbled oval that links 58th and 59th streets, a private driveway disguised as a public piazza called Beacon Court. If it were truly open - if security guards did not track your steps through the premises or prohibit snapshots - it would be a marvelous civic gift.

The East Side has so few pauses in its hectic grid that the ellipse could become a beloved little enclave, a meeting place just off the frenetic bustle of Lex.

Aspiring to greatness

The chief architect, Rafael Pelli, son and associate of Cesar Pelli, began his career working for Hugh Hardy on the fantastically successful refurbishment of the open-air parlor called Bryant Park.

With the Bloomberg Tower's plaza, he aspired to make another great New York enclosure, akin to Grand Central Station, the reading room of the New York Public Library, the skating rink at Rockefeller Center or the World Financial Center Winter Garden, which his father designed.

Whether he succeeded will depend on how animated the plaza becomes - which will in turn depend on the quality of the restaurant that moves into the eastern curve - but already it is a special space.

Up, up and away

Like the library's reading room, where pink-tinged clouds dapple painted blue heavens on the ceiling, Beacon Court frames the sky.

The glass walls sweeping around the perimeter tilt slightly inward, drawing the eye into a rising spiral that goes twisting out of the urban canyon. Anyone can furnish a view from the 50th floor; Pelli has designed one from the sidewalk, looking up.

He has also designed a new street theater. The oval is roughly the size and shape of an 18th-century opera house; the 58th Street entrance faces a narrower proscenium opening, capped by a stainless-steel arch.

The spectators in the galleries all work for Bloomberg LP, whose offices wrap like galleries around the opening. Their frenzied activity and a blaring news crawl, visible from the street, provide additional drama under glass.

A kinetic, baroque sensibility infuses this curvaceous spot. It's startling not just because Manhattan is so rectilinear, but because it offsets the tower's austere form.

The link is in the surface - not the plain, flat skin of tinted glass that sheathes so many midtown offices, but a textured, twinkling hide.

The glass is ribbed and translucent in some places, smooth and clear in others. Each pane's exact degree of reflectivity is calibrated, depending on what takes place behind it.

An utterly transparent band of windows at torso height runs around the restaurant, so diners inside having an expensive good time can incite envy in those outside without reservations.

The story of the stories

Horizontal tubes of stainless steel hover nearly 2 feet from the sides of the court like rungs of a great curved ladder.

(Security guards are primed to tackle anyone who tries to climb them.) The tubes and the slender struts that hold them in place cast complicated shadows or reflections onto the faceted glass walls, so the whole surface dances in the changing light.

The tower itself has a more regular rhythm, the beat of each story accented by a floor-level white metal band that sticks out all the way around.

At the 30th floor, where the tower turns residential and the ceiling heights shrink, the bands come closer together, as if the drummer had picked up the pace, accelerating into the diffuse white glow of the crown.

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16809962.jpg
A view from the courtyard of Cesar Pelli's Bloomberg Tower at 731 Lexington Ave.

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16809967.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16809992.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810007.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810008.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810009.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810021.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810084.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810101.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810114.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-03/16810108.jpg

beacon court's such a cool looking plaza. rafael pelli's definitely living up to the skills of his dad for sure...

looks ****ing AWESOME!!!!! :omg: :cool:

I haven't posted any pic in a long time about the tower, so here's this pic from February:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0201Image0003.jpg

Great shot Phil, damn! Lucky at Hunter, seeing that view everyday!

I haven't posted any pic in a long time about the tower, so here's this pic from February:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/tom3km/2005_0201Image0003.jpg
One of the best pics of the tower I've ever seen

that bridge bitween that 2 buildings is cool, never seen that around that high, witch street has the picture made?

Here's a recent pic of the Bloomberg Tower.

Originally posted by NYCTowers on SSP.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/a34b2bd4.jpg

Question- Is the official height 806 or 856 feet? Emporis has it as 806 but I've seen it as 856.

Please be 856 lol.

that bridge bitween that 2 buildings is cool, never seen that around that high

take a look at the petronas towers ;)

Here are some recent shots of the Bloomberg Tower that I just found today.

Originally posted on Zippy the Chimp on Wired NY.
http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/4624/bloomberg366hl.jpg
http://img342.imageshack.us/img342/9149/bloomberg356sd.jpg

That first picture quickly became my new wallpaper :drool:
Thanks TalB for posting them, and great job Zippy the Chimp, wherever you are, for these amazing pictures!

I was wondering the correct height of this building. On some sites it says 806f and others it says 856f.

I believe 856 ft was measuring from the basement, 806 ft is the height from pavement to roof.

Although the scaffolding has been removed, the base didn't look the finished the last time I saw it.

Here's another recent shot of the Bloomberg Tower.

From the WSB.
http://ofb.net/~epstein/sl/0507/20050725-bridge-midtown.jpg

it looks very similar to citigroup in that pic.

September 9, 2005:

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/7987/bloomlarge8lg.jpg

Just recently, Emporis switched the status of the Bloomberg Tower to completed.

Pbase find:

http://www.pbase.com/enigmawmn/image/42869926/original.jpg

Hmm.. not bad! its design suits NY.. and it fit in very well wit the others eventhou its more modern than the other buildings round it(pic from post 229).. i like it.. :cool:

That picture that savethewtc posted is very nice! I love the angle it captures with the bloomberg tower and the Chrysler. Nice find! ;)

Very nice. It'll give our skyline something new.

The Bloomberg Tower will be home to Manhattan's second Home Depot, which is already there.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5818/homedepot5wl.jpg

I base of the tower looks really neat and I love these new modern glass/steel box towers. :okay:

^ yeah, bloomberg's got one of the best bases ive seen in a futurist po-mo skyscraper.

so, have they started really filling up the office space and apartments in the building? the building still looks rather dark in that dusk shot.

http://www.nypost.com/realestate/comm/55593.htm
D&D TOWER LIFTS 3RD AV.

By STEVE CUOZZO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 18, 2005 -- Realty Check


THE Third Avenue renaissance near Bloomingdale's continues apace.

Vornado's Bloomberg tower, the luxury condos at 205 E. 59th St. and other projects have restored the chic aura that was in retreat since the early 1990s, when the closing of Alexander's department store left a huge crater.

Nowhere is the turnaround more visible than at the Decoration & Design Building at 979 Third Ave.

Despite its longtime status as the "capital" of the interior design showroom industry, the white-brick facade long resembled that of an ordinary apartment building — and its own interior once left something to be desired.

But in 1996, it was purchased by developer Charles S. Cohen, who has pumped in more than $30 million on capital improvements inside and out.

Most visible to the public is a new limestone facade on lower floors and a six-story annex that opened last year at 229 E. 59th St.

The buildings share a new, unified façade and some spaces, like the new Ralph Lauren Home showroom, span both addresses.

Fully leased, 625,000- square-foot D&D is home to 120 showrooms representing 3,000 manufacturers of home furnishings, from fabrics to furniture to carpeting and lighting.

New corridors have been created by designer Jamie Drake to relate to the products on view on specific floors.

On the 14th floor, Charlie Palmer's restaurant Astra, open for lunch Monday through Friday, sports a clean new look.

The D&D impact spills over onto the neighboring blocks, where design-related shops and showrooms have pushed out run-down bars and delis.

Even though the annex added 50,000 square feet to the main building's 575,000, Cohen says D&D has the longest waiting list in its history — "the residential real estate boom naturally fuels a design boom," he explains. Asking rents range from the $50s to $70s.

http://www.nysun.com/article/23022
A Feud Closes A Subway Exit At 59th and Lex

BY JEREMY SMERD - Special to the Sun
November 15, 2005

A feud between New York City Transit and Vornado Realty Trust will keep an entrance to one of the city's busiest subway stations - on the southeast corner of 59th Street and Lexington Avenue across from Bloomingdale's - closed this holiday season and for the foreseeable future.

The lines of the battle have been drawn and detailed through correspondence, the most recent copies of which were made available to The New York Sun. The dispute remains at an impasse.

Meanwhile, the subway entrance is closed, though it is the only entrance to the southern end of a station that serves parts of the city's busiest subway line: the uptown 4, 5, and 6, as well as the N, R, and W lines.

Vornado constructed the station entrance as part of its 54-story complex known as 731 Lexington Avenue, which was built on the site where the Alexander's department store once stood. The sprawling, block-size building houses the headquarters for Mayor Bloomberg's company, Bloomberg L.P., which completed the move into its new headquarters this summer. Other tenants include Citigroup, the clothing store H&M, and Home Depot.

But officials at New York City Transit have kept the roll gate the size of a garage door shuttered and locked since the station entrance was completed in February, forcing all of the riders who use the uptown station to exit and enter one block north on the corner of 60th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Transit official say snow and ice that sometimes blows off the 868-foot building make the entrance unsafe. The concern stems from two incidents this winter when an icicle fell from an upper story railing above the subway entrance and nearly hit a pedestrian.

In a letter to Vornado's chairman Steven Roth dated September 21, the president of New York City Transit, Lawrence Reuter, wrote: "This entrance will remain closed until this issue is resolved so as to assure the safety of our customers."

Mr. Reuter then added that transit officials would hold onto Vornado's $1 million bond until "appropriate measures are taken."

Vornado Realty, however, has refused to install a canopy over the entrance, arguing that it would do little to protect pedestrians and that the chances of snow and ice blowing off the building are rare. The company said it would defer on these matters to the police department, which is responsible for keeping the sidewalks safe. Vornado suggested temporarily closing off the sidewalk when necessary, an idea New York City Transit has rejected.

In his letter responding to Mr. Reuter and dated October 14, the president of Vornado's New York City office, David Greenbaum, noted that transit officials had previously approved the entrance's plans, which did not include a canopy. Then he went on to list a number of other changes New York Transit officials had requested of the company that were not included in the "MTA approved construction documents," costing the company $114,000.

Mr. Greenbaum's grievances also included a recent request made by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's to relocate a subway globe light because transit officials feared it would get hit by a truck.

Mr. Greenbaum concluded his letter, writing, "Your attention to these matters would be appreciated."

The impasse in the heart of the city's retail district comes as the holiday shopping season gets under way and transit officials offer discount fares be tween Thanksgiving and New Year's, a giveback that will also serve to make the two staircases at the station's 60th street entrance exceedingly crowded.

Elected leaders have been complaining about the closed station for months. The director of community affairs for city councilwoman Eva Moskowitz said the two parties should find a way to mitigate their concerns in order to open the entrance for the shopping season without compromising people's safety.

"It's commendable that the MTA doesn't want to compromise on safety concerns but I think both sides need to work things out," the Moskowitz aide, Jennifer Sedlis, said. Riders yesterday struggled to make sense of the locked gates and turnstiles that greeted them as they got off the uptown no. 6. Beyond the gates, the lights shined, the MetroCard vending machines were on and the wide stairs were spotless.

Diane Gonzalez, an attorney, was already late for a job interview on 57th Street. "You'd think 59th Street would be closer, but now I have to walk 3 blocks instead of two," she said.

^The whole situation is stupid. There's potential of snow and ice falling from any building near a subway station. Doesn't make sense to close it now, we haven't snowed yet. Plus, how much does a canopy cost? I'm sure any of the sides could afford to put one up.

^good point.
Didn't ice fall from the ESB or in Times Square last winter?
I don't understand the dispute, even for safety reasons, shouldn't they have made it known to the contractors that they need a canopy?

I don't get it either, if it wasn't an issue then, why make it one right now?

Besides the subway issue, here is a recent shot of the Bloomberg Tower from Forgotten NY durring a tour of Roosevelt Island.

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/forgottentour23/forgottennerscaren.jpg