The 84-storey residential Steinway Tower, designed by New York architecture firm SHoP Architects, has the title of “most slender skyscraper in the world” thanks to its logic-defying ratio of width to height: 1-to-23 1/2.
“Any time it’s 1-to-10 or more that’s considered a slender building” SHoP Architects founding principal Gregg Pasquarelli said.
“1-to-15 or more is considered exotic and really difficult to do.
“The most slender buildings in the world are mostly in Hong Kong, and they’re around 17- or 18-to-1.”
The 60 apartments in the tower range cost well above the million-dollar mark with the cheapest going from $US18 million ($25.9 million) but offer 360-degree views of the city.
It’s located just south of Central Park, along a stretch of Manhattan’s 57th Street known as ‘Billionaires’ Row’.
At 435 metres, the building is the second-tallest residential tower in New York, second to the nearby Central Park Tower at 470 metres.
For comparison, the world’s tallest tower is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which stands at 828 metres.
Counterbalancing sway
The complex however is so skinny at the top that whenever the wind ramps up, the luxury homes on the upper floors sway around by a few metres.
“Every skyscraper has to move,” Mr Pasquarelli said.
“If it’s too stiff, it’s actually more dangerous — it has to have flexibility in it.”
To prevent the tower from swaying too far, the architects created a counterbalance with tuned steel plates.
Mr Pasquarelli said while the exterior has the de rigueur reflective glass, it also includes a textured terracotta and bronze facade that creates wind turbulence to slow the acceleration of the building.
About 200 rock anchors descend up to 30 metres into the underlying bedrock to provide a deep foundation.
Steinway Tower has a long history as the former location of Steinway Hall, constructed in 1924.
JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group bought the building in 2013, and now they’re looking to the future.
“What I’m hoping is that 50 years from now, you’ve only known New York with 111 West 57th St,” Mr Pasquarelli said.
“I hope it holds a special place in all future New Yorkers’ hearts.”
According to www.abc.net.au. Source of photo: internet
