is this manhattan's next supertall tower?

back in 2018, RB systems unveiled a concept skyscraper for the city of new york. rising 400 meters in height, the project is located on a small, vacant site on 265 west 45th street in manhattan and explores the new tower typology which emerged in the city in the last years — the new york’s super slender.

a potential project for this site has begun with extell — the developer — filing demolition permits, reports new york YIMBY. while the firm didn’t commission the renderings, the project’s square footage is similar in scope. here we take a closer look at the proposed tower.

all images by RB systems

set on a 30×30 meter lot, the tower by RB systems provides modern, ergonomic, sustainable office spaces with an innovative structural system that determines its appearance. due to the constrained site, the choice was to eliminate perimeter columns and substitute them by a set of steel cables which run and twist along the height of the tower, allowing for a light yet sturdy structural assembly. the cables are then anchored in a foundation, MEP zones and tied back to the core that upper structural ring. this spiral arrangement of the cables called the twist creates a force of surface tension, resulting in a corset holding the insides contained.

architecturally, this becomes an expression of the building’s structure, one that is sleek, minimal and futuristic featuring a volume of reflective glass. due to its cylindrical tube shape, the structure results efficient in wind resistance. this also aligns with its technology-oriented aesthetics, which allow for circulating elevators and multi-storey lobby with automatic visitors’ dispatch systems.

overall, the goal was to design the block’s centrepiece which would contribute to the extremely diverse, changing, energetic and ever-progressing built environment of new york. a dazzling shine of reflective glass and chrome, modernity of aluminum, and dynamic shapes are called to create a dominating presence and stature on 45th st, increasing values of surrounding properties.

project info:

name: 265 W 45th ST

renders by: RB systems

location: new york city