MJM + A Architects Unveil Design for Hudson Spire –The Tallest Building in North America
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 17, 2014 -- MJM + A Architects PLLC, an award-winning Manhattan-based architectural practice, recently unveiled their plans for the construction of Hudson Spire, a 110 story, 1,800 foot tall tower that would become the tallest building in North America.
The structure will include approximately 1.2 million square feet for high-end retail, office, hotels, and residences in the heart of Hudson Yards, a dynamic new neighborhood and cultural center in development on 10th Avenue from 34th to 40th Street, on the site of what was formerly the West Side Rail Yards. Hudson Spire would be on a section of the new Hudson Boulevard, overlooking a park-like public space that is the centerpiece of the neighborhood. The building will face the Hudson River and be less than two blocks from the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
Michael J. Macaluso, Principal and Founder of MJM + A Architects, was retained by the property owners and their exclusive real estate broker Massey Knakal to come up with a grand design for the building. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that architects dream of,” says Macaluso. “When the senior executives of Massey Knakal, James Nelson and Bob Knakal, and Anthony Volpe of the Rosenthal Group first laid out for us the challenge of creating an 1,800 foot high mixed-use tower for Hudson Yards, we were both thrilled and inspired. As architects, our job is to interpret the dreams of others. The creative geniuses of our design studio, led by my partner Keith Lucas, came up with a stunning vision of a vibrant glass structure that literally jumps from its bases and soars to the stars.”
Hudson Spire is slated to have 110 stories, offering a unique combination of commercial and residential space. Floors one through five will host upscale restaurants and retailers, on top of which will be 15 stories of office space. Floors 21through 85 are designated for three separate high-end hotel properties, each with approximately 200 guest rooms, lavish amenities, and event/conference space. The top 25 floors will be luxury residences, with one or two units per floor, concierge service, private elevators, glass walls on all four sides, and stunning views that extend from the Statue of Liberty to the George Washington Bridge and beyond.
“Hudson Yard represents the last frontier in undeveloped Manhattan property,” says Macaluso, “and Hudson Spire will be right in the middle of this dynamic new neighborhood with all its cultural attractions, entertainment, and river views. And its close proximity to the Javits Center makes it an excellent choice for Fortune 500 executive travelers.”
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Design-wise, Hudson Spire follows the “super tall / super thin” strategy of other recent luxury high rise residences, mandated by the space, cost and zoning realities of Manhattan property. Starting at a base width of approximately 100 feet, the edifice will be physically set back as it rises, tapering to just 75 feet in width at the top floors. The structural challenges of high winds and complex elevator requirements are solved with a hybrid reinforced concrete and steel frame, encased by alternating reflective and non-reflective high powered glass.
“There’s not a lot of façade to work with,” says Keith M. Lucas, Partner and Project Designer for MJM + A Architects, “so we wanted to make it visually interesting. We decided, rather than go with a typical singular surface, let’s do something different and more dynamic. Let’s vary the composition of the glass color and reflective property, with lots of intersecting angles that play off one another, so that sunsets and city views will look different on one face of the building than on the others.”
At 1,800 feet, Hudson Spire will be even taller than the recently-constructed Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center. “Since 9/11, the city has gone through a long healing process. The owners of the property want to create a building that looks forward, not back, that will uplift the city but is unrelated to 9/11,” says Macaluso. “Hudson Spire reflects the dawn of a new age, emphasizing the global character of New York City as a business hub, a tourist destination, and the many foreign residents who now call it home. Hudson Spire will be a welcome addition to the Manhattan skyline, and to the spirit of the city itself.”
For more information, contact Ron Gold, MarketingWorks PR at (631) 941-1100. To view architectural renderings of Hudson Spire, go to http://tinyurl.com/jw9omjf.
About MJM + A
Founded in 1976 by the firm’s namesake, M.J. Macaluso & Associates Architects (MJM + A) provides design and consulting services in architecture, planning, interior design, construction administration and project management. Its team of architects, project managers, designers, artists, financial planners, and administrators creates unique and award-winning solutions for diverse projects throughout a broad spectrum of site, scale and scope. The practice currently holds active licenses in 14 states including New York, Florida and California. Believing that architects must be stewards of both the environment and the economic interest of the project, MJM + A maintains several LEED-accredited professionals and has an active focus on sustainability. The growing firm recently expanded its midtown Manhattan studio and now houses a staff of approximately 22 associates.
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Ron Gold, Marketing Works, http://www.marketingworkspr.com, +1 (516) 297-1637, [email protected]
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