Construction is underway on 50 United Nations Plaza, the first residential tower by Foster + Partners in the United States. Developed by Zeckendorf Development with Global Holdings, the 44-storey luxury apartment tower occupies a prestigious location within the green setting of United Nations Plaza, with views of the modernist UN Headquarters building, the East River and the Manhattan skyline.
The tower’s massing was developed with intention to respect the height and scale of its neighbours. Its three volumes appear faceted in elevation, visually reducing the building’s scale, while emphasising its vertical form. Each volume extends into a series of deep bay windows, which maximise views and broaden the living spaces within. The bay windows are unified by a horizontal grid of stainless steel bands, referencing the New York Art Deco style of nearby buildings.
The tower incorporates a combination of active and passive environmental strategies – more than half of the facade is solid, with the rest made up of highly insulated glazing and construction will incorporate recycled materials. The project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2014.