SOM has designed a mixed-use, 83 story skyscraper that could be up to 1,646 feet (502 meters) tall. the tower is planned for ‘175 park avenue’, a plot next to grand central terminal and surrounded by new york city landmarks. the site is currently occupied by the grand hyatt hotel, donald trump’s first major development in manhattan. the development involves demolishing the existing building, and replacing it with a skyscraper that will embrace its connection to the civic realm with a series of new public spaces and improvements to the surrounding transportation infrastructure. the project is scheduled to open in 2030.

SOM 175 park avenue
image © EKOO media, inc, courtesy of skidmore, owings & merrill

 

 

‘175 park avenue’, which is being developed by RXR realty and TF cornerstone in partnership, is expected to feature approximately: 2.1 million square feet of new, class A commercial office space; a hyatt-operated hotel with up to 500 rooms; and retail outlets on the cellar and ground floors, including MTA-controlled locations. designed by SOM, the tower is symmetrical along both axes, seeking to create a balanced and harmonious relationship to grand central terminal’s beaux-arts symmetry.

SOM 175 park avenue
image © miysis SPRL, courtesy of skidmore, owings & merrill

 

 

the tower’s structural lattice intertwines into two bundles at the base of the building to create wide, column-free glass openings on the east, south, and west sides of the building. the design team explains that the lattice splits into a pattern that aligns with and responds to key features of grand central terminal, such as the cornice line and the statue of mercury. meanwhile, at its peak, the lattice meets in a rounded crown of luminous, interlaced steel.

SOM 175 park avenue
image © EKOO media, inc, courtesy of skidmore, owings & merrill

 

 

the project will also include infrastructure upgrades to grand central terminal and the grand central-42nd street subway station. the development team have worked closely with the MTA to identify transit improvements, which were drawn up by SOM. one such improvement is the ‘short loop’ — a connection from both the metro-north railroad platforms and long island rail road’s nearly-completed east side access terminal directly to the subway mezzanine. this means that commuters can travel between the metro-north and the subway without ever stepping foot in the main concourse.

SOM plans '175 park avenue' skyscraper to neighbor new york's grand central terminal
image © skidmore, owings & merrill

 

 

to address overcrowding in grand central terminal’s 42nd street passage and subway entrance, the redevelopment rethinks how passengers access the station with a brand-new transit hall, a new dedicated subway entrance, expanded connections to the 42nd street passage, and a new fare control area relocated at street level. in addition, the tower will be surrounded by approximately 24,000 square feet of elevated, publicly accessible space that provides a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of midtown sidewalks below.

SOM plans '175 park avenue' skyscraper to neighbor new york's grand central terminal
image © skidmore, owings & merrill

 

 

project info:

 

name: 175 park avenue
location: new york, NY
development team: RXR realty and TF cornerstone

design architect and architect of record for tower and on-site transit improvements: skidmore, owings & merrill (SOM)
architectural and historical consultant: beyer blinder belle
landscape architect: james corner field operations
structural engineer: WSP USA buildings
engineering and advisor for transit improvements: stantec
geotech engineering: langan
mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineer: jaros, baum & bolles
building envelope and façade consultant: heintges