New York’s Skyscraper, Park Infusion

Architecture is so interesting for many reasons but one in particular is the ability to change the landscape of an entire city and push architecture to its limits. Ever since the dawn of architecture people have been trying new and interesting things that were ahead of their time or erecting reminiscent structures from the ancient past. Architecture is extremely dynamic and its up to the architect to test the boundaries of what they thought was possible to what else can be constructed.

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All that being said, there are now plans to once again revolutionize modern day architecture. In the heart of New York City, a new skinny skyscraper that will feature 3 living and breathing parks is set for construction in the near future. The building will be residential and will reach 700 feet high. Its location is set for 12 East 37th Street.

The building will offer residents such amenities as a fitness area, infinity pool, and private yoga studio. The design director Robert Goodwin says, “You’re never really four or five floors away from a common space.” There are 65 apartments set to be added to the new structure that will range from 400sq. foot studio apartments to 1,800sq. foot floor throughs.

Due to specific New York City zoning rule the building will be quite skinny thus minimizing the footprint on the city. With the building being so thin there are virtually unlimited height restrictions. Since the building will be rather tall the parks will have 33-foot-high areas.

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One of the major complications with tall, skinny buildings is providing the structure with an efficient support structure to assist in controlling the building with heavy winds or other acts of nature. To maximize inside space in the new building the designers have moved the structural system to the exterior and are set to arrange a steel grid with a  concrete one as extra support. The benefit of this method gives developers more flexibility in laying out units and reduces the elevator core thickness by about 50%.

Personally I cant wait to see the new building go up and watch New York City change again. Truly groundbreaking when it comes to modern architecture.