Construction on the world’s skinniest tower halts due to ballooning costs

When completed, 111 West 57^th Street will tower over New York City’s Central Park. At a height of 1,421 feet and a height-to-width ratio of 24:1, the SHoP Architects-designed residential building will hold the title of world’s skinniest skyscraper.

However, it may no longer be a matter of when the tower is completed, but if it is completed. After rising just 20 stories, construction on 111 West 57^th Street has ground to a halt due to ballooning costs.

As the New York Post reports, the skyscraper is already $50 million over budget and a legal battle may be brewing. In an effort to save what is left of its $70 million investment, AmBase, a real estate investment corporation, is suing the project sponsors Kevin Maloney and Michael Stern and lender Spruce Capital Partners.

AmBase’s attorney, Stephen Meister, told the New York Post Maloney and Stern “omitted some very significant items in their budget including cranes, which are very expensive in New York and can run into the millions of dollars.” Currently less than one-quarter complete, the latest Billionaires’ Row project is facing imminent foreclosure.

nZero, developer of a real-time carbon accounting and management platform, is offering free carbon emissions assessments for buildings in New York City. The offer is intended to help building owners prepare for the city’s upcoming Local Law 97 reporting requirements and compliance. This law will soon assess monetary fines for buildings with emissions that are in non-compliance.

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The programmatic evolution of the lobby

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Office Buildings | Aug 10, 2023

Bjarke Ingels Group and Skanska to deliver 1550 on the Green, one of the most sustainable buildings in Texas

In downtown Houston, Skanska USA’s 1550 on the Green, a 28-story, 375,000-sf office tower, aims to be one of Texas’ most sustainable buildings. The $225 million project has deployed various sustainable building materials, such as less carbon-intensive cement, to target 60% reduced embodied carbon.

Alcove residential tower at night by James Steinkamp Photography

MFPRO+ New Projects | Aug 4, 2023

Nashville gets 'first-of-its-kind' residential tower

Global architecture firm Goettsch Partners announces the completion of Alcove, a new 356-unit residential tower in Nashville, Tenn., developed by Giarratana LLC.

Eagle + West tower, Brooklyn, by OMA, Beyer Blinder Belle Photo: John Cole

MFPRO+ New Projects | Jul 27, 2023

OMA, Beyer Blinder Belle design a pair of sculptural residential towers in Brooklyn

Eagle + West, composed of two sculptural residential towers with complementary shapes, have added 745 rental units to a post-industrial waterfront in Brooklyn, N.Y. Rising from a mixed-use podium on an expansive site, the towers include luxury penthouses on the top floors, numerous market rate rental units, and 30% of units designated for affordable housing.

Keppel South Central is slated for completion in late 2024. Rendering courtesy NBBJ

High-rise Construction | Jul 26, 2023

A 33-story Singapore tower aims to reimagine work with restorative, outdoor spaces

Architecture firm NBBJ has unveiled design details for Keppel South Central, a commercial tower in Singapore. The project, which is slated for completion in late 2024, will transform the original Keppel Towers into a 33-story, energy-efficient building that aims to reimagine work by providing restorative spaces and connections to the outdoors.