Hearst Tower - 300 West 57th Street @ Eighth Avenue - by Norman Foster

[Whisperer]

That escalator is going to look hot when the waterfalls start. And for all you doubters, TishmanSpyer Properties is going all out to make the interior upscale,..latest techonologies.

[MidtownGuy]

if I remember correctly, first there was supposed to be public access into the bottom spaces, and now there won't be? I would love to see the waterfall and the inner courtyard area. I hope they allow us in.

[Whisperer]

The security turnstiles are "before" the escalator, but they may allow "checked and badged" visitors up to food court atrium level.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by antinimby

This is easily the least flattering angle for both of these two buildings--fat and short.

that's because they are... ! short, fat and ugly...!

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Scruffy88

True i type fast and never spell check but I can go back and edit my mistakes. The ones made on this tower we will have to deal with for decades. or until they grow on us.

I doubt they'll ever grow on me - this building is banal; it has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever: it isn't really green and it is not even a nice object. The height to width ratio is unfortunate, yes; but it doesn't end there - it has a brutal scale issues; and I don't just mean "size" - I mean articulation.

I think Foster has done better... much better. I wished his first NYC tower had been a bit more memorable.

[sfenn1117]

Looks good in the snow too.

[finnman69]

Originally Posted by czsz

It's as flat as a 12 year old girl.

It looks so cheap. I think the scale of it only works when you are really far away. Proportionally it bothers me, too squat.

[finnman69]

Originally Posted by Jake

Taken from the East side and not much is visible but just another example of how unimpressive it looks in the skyline

construction continues....



an unimpressive skyline...


and even worse in the sunset...

They should have added one more row of the diagrid frames to the top, without any glazing. Given it a lacy open hat truss top.

[BigMac]

The Gutter
March 7, 2006

Hearst Tower Spy Shots!



A Reader identifying herself only as a construction worker at Norman Foster's Hearst Tower sent us the image above, identified only as "top of the house." We're not sure what that means. But we're sure sure that legions of architecture geeks everywhere will thrill at the sight of so much raw ductwork. Norman Foster's raw ductwork! From us to you. An inscrutable and equally Nokiaesque pic of the long-sought atrium interior follows. Along with a dusty foretaste of Cathy Black's view.





Copyright © 2006 Curbed

[lofter1]

The scaffolding and hoist that ran up the 57th St. facade is now completely down from the new tower.

All they need to do is put in the windows and add the diagonal grid "trim" and this baby will be completely dressed.

[antinimby]

Originally Posted by lofter1

The scaffolding and hoist that ran up the 57th St. facade is now completely down from the new tower.

That was fast. Pictures even a month ago (I think) showed it was still fully intact.
I think they are scheduled to move the first workers in this June.

[lofter1]

If you look here: http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/sh...&postcount=601 you'll see that it was about 3/4 of the way down during the last snow ...

[antinimby]

That just meant they worked very fast because just a few days earlier (Feb. 6 to be exact), MidtownGuy took this shot:

[americasroof]

Originally Posted by finnman69

It looks so cheap. I think the scale of it only works when you are really far away. Proportionally it bothers me, too squat.

In addition:
http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/sh...&postcount=603

How can you possibly say this building sucks? It is one of the unique non-box buildings in NYC which is instantly recognizable. It more so than some spectacular earlier efforts such as the Worldwide Plaza (featured on lots of t.v. programs including CBS News and Jay Leno) and even Time Warner moves Hell's Kitchen from crappy to chic.

For added points I thought the photo from the roof was the most interesting I've seen to date. There's also some cool angles from Central Park.

The fact this thread keeps popping up with photos definitely attests to its success. Even though Randolph's grand plans for this site was the world's tallest in the 1920s was scrapped (just as Worldwide's 1970s similar aspirations were also scrapped) this building's influence far outweighs its tiny height which is just an asterik on the NYC skyline.

I suppose they are looking for a street level tenant that is somewhat above the barebone tenant from which I bought a broom in the early 1980's.

[Citytect]

I really don't like the way Hearst looks from more than a few blocks away. The giant scale really bothers me, especially considering the height of the building. On the other hand, approaching this building close-up from Eight Avenue it becomes jaw-dropping, stunning.