Central Park Tower

Central Park Tower is a very tall residential building located at 217 West 57th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, United States. It was designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and stands 1,550 feet tall with 98 stories above ground and three basement stories. Though the top floor is numbered 136, it is the second-tallest building in New York City, behind One World Trade Center, and the tallest residential building in the world.

The building was developed by Extell Development Company and Shanghai Municipal Investment Group. The lower floors house a large Nordstrom store that opened in 2019. The residential part of the tower has 179 large apartments, each averaging about 5,000 square feet, designed by Rottet Studio. There are also special spaces for residents on floors 14 through 16 and a private club on floor 100.

Construction began after many delays and challenges, with excavations starting in May 2014 and building work beginning in early 2015. The tower was completed in 2020 at a cost of $3 billion, becoming an important part of New York City's skyline along Billionaires' Row.

Site

Central Park Tower is located in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, United States. It sits on the east side of Broadway, between 57th Street to the south and 58th Street to the north. The building is just one block south of Central Park and Columbus Circle. Nearby, you’ll find buildings such as 1790 Broadway, 240 Central Park South, and 220 Central Park South.

This area is known as Billionaires' Row because of its many tall, expensive buildings. Other notable structures nearby include 432 Park Avenue, 111 West 57th Street, and One57.

In the past, this part of Broadway was called "Automobile Row" and was filled with car showrooms and stores. Older buildings on the site included the former B. F. Goodrich Company showroom and the Stoddard-Dayton showroom. These buildings were replaced over time, and the land was later used for Central Park Tower.

Architecture

Central Park Tower was developed by Extell and Shanghai Municipal Investment Group. It was designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, with AAI Architects as the architect of record. WSP Global was the structural engineer, and Lendlease was the main contractor.

The building has 98 floors above ground and three basement levels. The top floor is numbered 136. The tallest part of the building is 1,550 feet (470 m) high. Central Park Tower is the tallest primarily residential building in the world. It is also the second-tallest skyscraper in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the 15th-tallest building in the world, and the tallest building outside Asia by roof height.

The facade of Central Park Tower was designed to fit into the skyline. The entrance for Nordstrom is on 57th Street, with another entrance for residents on 58th Street. To give views of Central Park, the tower has a special part that sticks out from the side.

The base of the tower is made of glass, and the upper floors have a curtain wall made of aluminum and glass. The building stands on strong bedrock, with a foundation of reinforced concrete. The superstructure is made of reinforced concrete and steel.

The building has 179 homes starting from the 32nd floor. These homes have two to eight bedrooms and range in size from 1,435 to 17,500 square feet. The building also has many amenities for residents, including a lounge, pools, exercise rooms, and a private club called "The 100th Floor". The first five floors house a Nordstrom department store.

History

Planning

Extell began buying land for what would become the Central Park Tower in mid-2005. They purchased two lots and gained additional space from neighboring buildings. In 2006 and 2007, Extell bought more space from other buildings, allowing for a large building to be built.

Construction

Construction permits were filed in 2012, and the building was designed to be very tall. Excavation began in 2014, and the foundation was poured in 2015. There were changes in design over the years, including plans for a spire that were later dropped.

The building faced financial challenges, with Extell needing to secure funding from various investors. Construction continued despite these difficulties. The building reached its full height in September 2019, becoming the tallest residential building in the world.

The building was completed by the end of 2021, though some finishing touches were still being added in 2022. Sales of apartments began in 2019, but some units were sold at discounted prices due to market conditions.

Reception

Central Park Tower got mixed reviews while it was being built. When the building reached its full height in 2019, some people said it was just another tall building in New York City, even though it was very fancy. Others said it made a big statement because of how tall and modern it looked.

Some people also criticized the building. They worried that its shadow would cover parts of Central Park. Others felt that the tower showed how big the gap was between rich and poor people in New York City.