[NYguy]

Getty72 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/getty72/3604618149/sizes/l/in/set-72157618935585213/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3604618149_6cf3c2fa7c_b.jpg

[Dac150]

Fits in perfectly.

[philvia]

awesome picture

[NYguy]

smmikkel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanmmyers/3597285651/sizes/l/in/set-72157619280483772/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3597285651_367bc21976_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3597286011_65ec0f2d77_b.jpg

[NYguy]

Mitch Waxman (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitchwaxman/3609557449/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/3609557449_096da9cacf_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3609563515_bb0fb27501_b.jpg

[ethereal_reality]

^^^ Excellent photographs. THX for posting.

[photoLith]

I want to live there so bad!!!! uhg, fucking Arkansas. It has taken them forever to finish this tower though.

[marcopolo 2.0]

Wow. Nice pics.

[NYguy]

The Tower Verre would be right at home...

marcbauer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcbauer/3614733294/sizes/o/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3614733294_e1859e501d_o.jpg

[NYguy]

pmarella (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmarella/3630962305/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/3630962305_5cf39d73ff_b.jpg

[NYguy]

SarahNYC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sackerman519/3622969724/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3622969724_0353230a1f_b.jpg

[NYguy]

Lisa Viera (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39510815@N04/3632791407/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3632791407_43e63a3afb_b.jpg

[NYguy]

moultonsteve (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8803311@N03/3630257617/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3630257617_bff56a3dcf_b.jpg


shankaramusic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shankara/3625505024/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3625505024_a284849f83_b.jpg

[NYguy]

Several seconds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/severalseconds/3596280075/sizes/o/in/pool-18964236@N00/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3596280075_0a36b0ce1a_o.jpg

[NYguy]

SBA73 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7455207@N05/3612360690/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3612360690_998018d48e_b.jpg

[NYguy]

ComradeCosmobot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/comradecosmobot/3618700766/sizes/m/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3618700766_0837cb4f0c.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3618700766_0837cb4f0c_b.jpg

[NYguy]

Lucas Hantz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/unefoisdenouveau/3644791553/sizes/l/in/set-72157620027280166/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3644791553_1cbcf70f48_b.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3644794671_465c75e325_b.jpg

[NYguy]

SkylineMarc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylinemarc/3648178554/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3648178554_080dcc9a74_b.jpg

[drumz0rz]

What's up with there being so many missing boarded up windows?

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Remember, it is still under construction. ;)

[NYguy]

HorseItch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15002904@N02/3610919138/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3610919138_1e83e7707b_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3610918794_2030453d5d_b.jpg

[NYguy]

JUNE 25, 2009

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286933/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286934/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286936/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286938/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286939/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286940/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286941/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286942/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114286943/large.jpg

[NYguy]

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090625/FREE/906259965

1 Bryant Park gets huge refinancing

By Theresa Agovino
June 25, 2009

In a rare sign of life in the moribund commercial lending sector, the owners of The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park are set to refinance the building on Monday with a $1.275 billion loan. It’s believed to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, single, private financings since the credit markets froze shut in 2007.

The building’s owners, The Durst Organization and Bank of America, will use the money from a consortium of five banks to pay back a $950 million loan on the 51-story , 2.1 million-square-foot tower that opened last year. The rest of the funds will be used to repay investors and finish work on the environmentally-friendly tower, which its owners hope will receive the highest ranking from the U.S. Green Building Council.

For Mr. Durst, locking up the new financing was one of the factors that allowed him to retain his position as chairman but to finally relinquish his title as co-president of his family firm. His cousin, Jody Durst, will now solo as president.

“I always said I wanted to step back when One Bryant Park was set,” Mr. Durst said. “It has taken a lot longer than I anticipated.”

For example, a construction accident knocked out 60 or 70 of building’s windows and the tower’s architecture makes replacing them challenging. It has also been difficult to re-create Henry Miller’s Theatre. The historic theater’s façade was preserved, but the interior has been moved underground.

Mr. Durst said turning over full day-to-day control to his cousin will continue the family tradition of smooth management transition.

“We don’t want the people coming up to think we don’t value their ideas,” said Mr. Durst. And what if Mr. Durst doesn’t like his successor’s ideas? “I’m still the chairman,” he quipped.

[antinimby]

That is very confusing. Bank of America, a bank--the largest U.S bank no less, needs to get a loan from other banks for its own building?

Can someone please explain that to me?

[NYguy]

That is very confusing. Bank of America, a bank--the largest U.S bank no less, needs to get a loan from other banks for its own building?

Can someone please explain that to me?

It's always been more of a Durst building than BOA, or at least that's the way I've always understood it...

The building’s owners, The Durst Organization and Bank of America, will use the money from a consortium of five banks to pay back a $950 million loan

All that TARP money being thrown around...:D

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/04/tarp-treasury-congress-business-beltway_0205_tarp.html

According to a new report issued early Thursday, 317 financial firms have received $194.2 billion in TARP funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury since October, but only two of them--Citigroup and Bank of America were required to say what they would do with it the money.

[PhillyRising]

I finally got to see this building for the first time in person yesterday.

It really is a gorgeous looking tower. I enjoyed staring up at it as I sat at a table in Bryant Park enjoying the sun (that finally came out).

The only bad thing about the tower...and I'm sorry if I offend anyone...but the spire making it a "Super Tall" is kind of bogus. If the building top flowed into the spire like the Chrysler (my favorite skyscraper of all time who I made my pilgramige to as well yesterday) and the Empire then I would say differently. It looks like a radio tower to me. I think a building this gorgeous should have had something better for it's spire design.

[NYguy]

The only bad thing about the tower...and I'm sorry if I offend anyone...but the spire making it a "Super Tall" is kind of bogus.

How so? The marking of 1,000 ft for supertalls is somewhat arbitrary. If the mark were moved to 1,500 ft, would that even matter? Of course not. It's a "supertall" only because the spire crossed that 1,000 ft mark, and you don't get to move the finish line after the race has started. Spires do count in the height, everyone knows or should know that by now.


If the building top flowed into the spire like the Chrysler and the Empire then I would say differently. It looks like a radio tower to me.

That's your opinion, but you want to compare 3 very different spires. The BofA spire is unique, and I think it does flow well with the building. But let's be honest, how many of the many spires out there around the world can stand up to the Chrysler or even the ESB? Not many, I can tell you that.

[NYguy]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.yfs733Ppvk

Bank of America, Durst Get $1.28 Billion to Refinance NYC Tower

By Henry Goldman
June 26

A group of banks has provided Bank of America and the closely held Durst Organization almost $1.28 billion to refinance their environmentally “green” tower near midtown Manhattan’s Bryant Park in New York.

Chairman Douglas Durst described the deal as the first major real estate financing completed in the U.S. since capital markets crashed last fall. The money will continue to pay construction costs for the nation’s first commercial tower certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as “LEED Platinum” for its energy conservation technology, spokesman Jordan Barowitz said.

“It was the largest skyscraper designed and built after Sept. 11, 2001, and now it’s the first building to get a large loan after the credit markets froze last year,” Durst said in a mayor’s office news release. “We are hopeful that this financing will engender additional lending and get our city, state and nation’s economies back on track.”

...The 55-story tower, a 50/50 joint venture of Bank of America and the Durst Organization, overlooks Bryant Park and Manhattan’s main library branch at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue. The building is 98 percent leased and scheduled for completion in 2010, Barowitz said.

2010. I don't doubt it...

[THE BIG APPLE]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.yfs733Ppvk

Bank of America, Durst Get $1.28 Billion to Refinance NYC Tower

By Henry Goldman
June 26



2010. I don't doubt it...

I think 2010 was a mistake. But nobody has put windows and removed the cardboard in a long time.

[PhillyRising]

How so? The marking of 1,000 ft for supertalls is somewhat arbitrary. If the mark were moved to 1,500 ft, would that even matter? Of course not. It's a "supertall" only because the spire crossed that 1,000 ft mark, and you don't get to move the finish line after the race has started. Spires do count in the height, everyone knows or should know that by now.

I know spires do count. That's not the issue.

I guess I'm old school when it comes to what a spire should look like. It just comes off to me as it was added on to make it "Super Tall" even though I know that wasn't the case. If they didn't have it, the building would still look amazing.

That's your opinion, but you want to compare 3 very different spires. The BofA spire is unique, and I think it does flow well with the building. But let's be honest, how many of the many spires out there around the world can stand up to the Chrysler or even the ESB? Not many, I can tell you that.

That's my point. The American International Building in Lower Manhattan and One Liberty Place in Philadelphia are two other examples of buildings with spires done well.

[Ricopedra]

Well, I've got to tell you. I've been looking at all the great pics here of the BofA and the wonderful panos of Midtown. Great work BTW, everyone.

I'm trying to be open minded, but my personal conclusion is: that spire sucks! It's too high, everyone in the 'hood seems to be doing it now, and it's starting to remind me of all the tv antennas on the roofs in the fifties. It's becoming a mess, really. Do they all at least have a purpose, like communications? Man! At least hang the Stars and Stripes up there!

Yes, a VERY COOL building - with an empty flag pole! (As you're looking up at the building, let your eyes follow the great angles into the sky-doh! Dang, that flagpole ruined the smooooothness!)

Maybe they could have made it look like pulled-up paper clips on a magnetic base, know what I mean? Business-like. Cheers, and no harm meant! :>)

[THE BIG APPLE]

^ Better than having flat roof tops that took over NYC in the 50's.

[rich_200]

^ Better than having flat roof tops that took over NYC in the 50's.

But you could have rooftops as 2WTC, Citigroup tower, Woolworth, etc and those IMO are better than spires. Two or three spires in the skyline are great for the view but more than that mmm not really. If it was possilbe and up to me I would keep BOFA, Chrysler and ESB as they are but I would take away the spires of the Conde Nast and the NYTT those are ugly thin spires specially the NYTT's one.

[antinimby]

Spires are one thing and slanted roofs are another. It's not one or the other. You can have both and NY does. That's one of the reasons that makes New York's skyline great.

Speaking as someone who actually lives here, I can tell you the spires make the skyline look busy and exciting. Can't have enough of 'em.

By the way, NY's always had lots of spires before the modernist boxes took over so there's a tradition there that's just recently been revived.

[DMAG]

Have they lit up the "shard" again? Are they going to be lighting it nightly or just on special occasions?

[uaarkson]

What they need to do is a lighting ala the Bank of China:

http://minorproduction2009.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/bank-of-china-at-night.jpg

What's so amazing about BOFA is its lines. The building is like a sharply cut ice sculpture, and a lighting style similar to the bank of china would bring this out at night.

Of course, it will never happen, because then we'd be copying our future rivals. =P

[meh_cd]

Are they even allowed to do Hong Kong-esque lighting in NYC?

[uaarkson]

Probably not

[NYguy]

I guess I'm old school when it comes to what a spire should look like. It just comes off to me as it was added on to make it "Super Tall" even though I know that wasn't the case. If they didn't have it, the building would still look amazing.

Consider that they could have cut the spire off at far less than 1,200 ft. In fact, 200 ft shorter, and it would still be a "supertall".

[NYguy]

circler (http://www.flickr.com/photos/circler/3675612739/sizes/l/in/set-72157620643415247/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2641/3675612739_40c9a2fe0e_b.jpg

[RoldanTTLB]

I'm proud to present the BoA thread with the "Spires of NY" update (and a bonus ALL OF NY Pic)!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlD4Ivz_RQI/AAAAAAAACe4/c2CCGkqJ1r0/s800/DSC01561.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlD4N0Gb0oI/AAAAAAAACfA/h7mvSmaWBr4/s800/DSC01524.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlD4KmOgJ_I/AAAAAAAACe8/955sGlzdmJo/s800/DSCF0603.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlD4Q_7KBnI/AAAAAAAACfE/hxYcih_0eug/s800/DSC01576.JPG

Even Jersey City and Queens (That's Citi in the distance.) want in on the action.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlD4FSQd0NI/AAAAAAAACe0/wKZJIJClh7Y/s800/DSC01596.JPG

[Tranquility]

The only bad thing about the tower...and I'm sorry if I offend anyone...but the spire making it a "Super Tall" is kind of bogus. If the building top flowed into the spire like the Chrysler (my favorite skyscraper of all time who I made my pilgramige to as well yesterday) and the Empire then I would say differently. It looks like a radio tower to me. I think a building this gorgeous should have had something better for it's spire design.

I completely agree :yes:

[NYguy]

I'm proud to present the BoA thread with the "Spires of NY" update (and a bonus ALL OF NY Pic)!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlD4Ivz_RQI/AAAAAAAACe4/c2CCGkqJ1r0/s800/DSC01561.JPG

I still say the east side of Manhattan needs an additional spire. But when the Tower Verre gets built, we'll see how the dynamics of the skyline changes.

[NYguy]

JULY 4, 2009

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114649427/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114649431/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114649436/large.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114649466/large.jpg

[NYguy]

Jason Arends (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonslogic/3689208774/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/3689208774_cc93a1b6e8_b.jpg

[NYguy]

lemonair (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lemonair/3693945703/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3693945703_0a6fb0af80_b.jpg

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

^ The Spike and The Swoop!

[NYguy]

From 125th Street (June 28, 2009)

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/114707173/large.jpg

[RoldanTTLB]

From the under-construction Intercontinental Hotel:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SlTWcnRj2JI/AAAAAAAACjQ/mn04ZsqJrCw/s800/DSC01732.JPG

[uaarkson]

Those windows are starting to get infuriating.

[NYguy]

Those windows are starting to get infuriating.

The building is not scheduled to be "completed" until next year, so you may have to get used to those windows for a while.

[NYguy]

cjammet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stophe/3700564481/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/3700564481_5051cdea45_b.jpg


Rusted Chrome (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rustedchrome/3679210254/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3679210254_a4eb046979_b.jpg

[Dac150]

I've heard that Merrill Lynch bankers that have been relocated to this building from 4 WFC, call it the 'Death Star'. In that last shot you kind of sense that vibe.

[NYguy]

I've heard that Merrill Lynch bankers that have been relocated to this building from 4 WFC, call it the 'Death Star'. In that last shot you kind of sense that vibe.

I would like to see more from the inside.

[NYguy]

curbed (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curbed/3708127827/sizes/o/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/3708127827_8294ff42e9_o.jpg


jakemarsiglia (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marsigliajake/3704911843/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3704911843_0049073bee_b.jpg

[meh_cd]

Absolutely love the indoor shot looking down at Bryant Park. Also shows just how dirty the glass is.

[NYguy]

sethelgart (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sethelgart/3715356602/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3715356602_ca5132ff32_b.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3714544855_33833eaa4e_b.jpg


Redroom Studios (http://www.flickr.com/photos/redroom_studios/3694240096/sizes/o/in/set-72157620858846375/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2501/3694240096_8d0ae221c1_o.jpg

[antinimby]

I see the tourists in the pics above were aware of the Manhattanhenge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattanhenge) (a.k.a Manhattan Solstice) phenomenon.

[NYguy]

I see the tourists in the pics above were aware of the Manhattanhenge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattanhenge) (a.k.a Manhattan Solstice) phenomenon.

Yeah, but I believe those were local photographers. Can you guess where that pic was from?

[antinimby]

Haha, at first glance I thought it was on one of those double-decker tour buses but upon closer inspection, I can see that it's not.

What event were those people gathering for?

[DMAG]

Haha, at first glance I thought it was on one of those double-decker tour buses but upon closer inspection, I can see that it's not.

What event were those people gathering for?

Manhattanhedge.

[vandelay]

Yeah, but I believe those were local photographers. Can you guess where that pic was from?

Tudor City viaduct over 42nd Street.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/3477402527_eb6a8071ae.jpg
Right behind the awning.

[NYguy]

Tudor City viaduct over 42nd Street.
Right behind the awning.

Yup. And it was for the Manhattanhenge. But I'm sure it's a great view down that canyon anytime.

[spwelan]

Video from today
www.shawnpwhelan.com
sFLwJX2GYkQ

[NYguy]

^ Nice. So many new towers in that view.

[NYguy]

Another beautiful shot...

danielmunevar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24884840@N05/3721836172/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3721836172_f3843ed8c5_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3721022833_7e0a1ee358_b.jpg

[CoolCzech]

Those sunset pics are simply amazing!

[NYguy]

Those sunset pics are simply amazing!

Those photos also showcase the effects of the spire down that 42nd St canyon.

[spwelan]

From yesterday at the Top of The Rock
P01hCH9rTAw&feature=player_profilepage
www.shawnpwhelan.com

[vandelay]

New Review of BoA Tower:

Bank of America’s Earnest Eco-Tower Rises From New York Slump (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=ac56q_lzAB2Y#)
By James S. Russell

July 28 (Bloomberg) -- The cocked-hat silhouette of Bank of America Corp.’s new Manhattan skyscraper pokes a few stories higher than its Times Square neighbors, a testament to the aspirations of the Charlotte, North Carolina, bank when the design was unveiled in 2004.

The building was touted as costing $1 billion in 2004, and the bank has declined to update the figure. After the 64 percent slump in the bank’s shares since September, this glinting bundle of shards, nearing completion across from Bryant Park, could be considered a monument to bonus-coddled, overindulgent, corporate excess -- if it weren’t so dumpy. Worse, it’s gracelessly, earnestly green.

The Durst Organization, a developer, had over decades painstakingly assembled one of the largest sites to be found in Midtown. It took a state urban-development agency’s threat of eminent domain -- the government’s right to seize private property -- to complete acquisition of the full 2 acres. The site included Henry Miller’s Theater, a small Broadway playhouse that hosted both “Our Town” and “Urinetown,” which Durst pledged to replace while retaining its 1918 facade.

The bank joined Durst as a co-owner because the site permitted a tall, thick tower, with lower floors accommodating highly desirable trading floors, one 80,000 square feet. Many of the bank’s floors (it occupies 1.6 million of the building’s 2.4 million square feet) are as large as those found in the destroyed World Trade Center. Architecture firm Cook & Fox, following a fast-fading fashion for crystalline forms, assembled faceted shafts, which are intended to visually slim large floors and take advantage of diagonal city vistas and views of Bryant Park.

Ungainly Matron

The 54-story result is among the most ungainly forms on the skyline, like a matron who swathes herself in thick layers of fabric in a vain attempt to slim her burgeoning silhouette. The tower climaxes with a spire as impressive as an auto antenna.
Cook & Fox touts One Bryant Park as “the world’s most environmentally responsible high-rise office building.”

This is an overstatement. Around the world, eco-buildings have moved far beyond this design. Still, Durst has a reputation as a green-building leader because its U.S. competition is so timid. Dan Tishman, chairman and chief executive officer of Tishman Construction Corp., spelled out why on a recent walkthrough. “America lags because we live in an energy-subsidized economy,” he said.

The key green advances are a co-generation plant that is especially useful in summer, when it reduces demand from the most polluting power plants. The building ventilates through the floor rather than the ceiling, decreasing power use while offering each occupant control over his own thermal comfort.

Filtered Air

The air is filtered of dust and harmful gasses to a much higher degree than in most existing buildings. The bank said it expects measurable increases in productivity and employee satisfaction from the improved air quality. Because the windows are made of an especially clear glass, called low-iron, the deep floors are bathed in daylight, allowing sensors to dim electric bulbs. The light and views are a joy compared with the cave-like interiors of most towers.

Though bands of white ceramic dots fused onto the glass are designed to cut unwanted sun, a bank official said the company had regretted not investing in shades that would automatically lower when the sun beats in. Assuming the rest of One Bryant Park’s green measures work better, such above-and-beyond commitment may pay off, since harvesting water from bathroom sinks and improving air quality may soon be mandated.

Nervous Moire

I wish Cook & Fox could package green more appealingly. On the exterior the alternating bands of clear and white glass create a nervous moire. The clumsy gigantism of the tower overwhelms the neo-Georgian delicacy of the retained facade of Henry Miller’s Theater. Behind the entrance, Cook & Fox dropped the new 1,055- seat theater one level below the street to allow bank trading floors to run unimpeded overhead. Seating and other accommodations -- especially women’s bathrooms -- are generous, but murky colors deflate anticipation. Contemporary fussiness in details fights with archeological sanctimony. Bits of the old theater are mounted like museum exhibits.

Pity the resident Roundabout Theatre Company which must breathe life into this mausoleum with “Bye Bye Birdie,” opening in September. At the planning stage, City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden wisely insisted that Cook & Fox include some nice street- level amenities, like an “urban garden room” that will feature plantings sculpted in the style of “Edward Scissorhands,” generous sidewalks, and new subway entrances. Like the rest of the design, these bits seem added on rather than integrated into the whole.

Combining soaring form, welcome urbanity and green innovation is certainly challenging, but good intentions are ill-served by such feeble expression.

(James S. Russell is Bloomberg’s U.S. architecture critic. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer of this column: James S. Russell in New York at jamesrussell@earthlink.net.

[uaarkson]

Pretentious contrarian bullshit. This building is magnificent.

[AtlantaMustang]

My new wallpaper! :tup:

[JDRCRASH]

Those photos also showcase the effects of the spire down that 42nd St canyon.

I'm surprised that there aren't many buildings lit up in that photo.

[NYguy]

I'm surprised that there aren't many buildings lit up in that photo.

Lights are on, they just won't stand out as much in a daytime photo. But lights are always on in those skyscrapers.

[NYguy]

B Coleman (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32215181@N08/3776143843/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3776143843_12dfcae937_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3776143551_408f67a5d0_b.jpg

[mrnyc]

are they ever going to get around to fixing the odd boarded up windows on this one? its been like that for umm...almost forever now. :shrug:

[NYguy]

are they ever going to get around to fixing the odd boarded up windows on this one? its been like that for umm...almost forever now. :shrug:

The building is shceduled to be completed sometime next year, so I imagine everything, including the windows will be complete by then.

[buildup]

I agree with James Russell's opinion of that so-called spire. The building would be better off without it.

[RoldanTTLB]

Watch the spire and people getting it on...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SnuMT_KkK1I/AAAAAAAADGo/K-zSwA3pZ84/s800/DSC01985.JPG

[Cro Burnham]

Is this building still under construction? When does it go into the completed section?

[CHAPINM1]

Is this building still under construction? When does it go into the completed section?

This building is STILL under construction, it is a massive and complex project. It will probably go into the completed section sometime in 2010.

[NYguy]

Is this building still under construction? When does it go into the completed section?

The obvious answer would be when it's completed. They got the financing to complete the job, and it's scheduled (as stated a few posts ago) to be completed sometime next year.


AUGUST 6, 2009

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/115804505/large.jpg



http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090625/FREE/906259965

1 Bryant Park gets huge refinancing

By Theresa Agovino
June 25, 2009

In a rare sign of life in the moribund commercial lending sector, the owners of The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park are set to refinance the building on Monday with a $1.275 billion loan. It’s believed to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, single, private financings since the credit markets froze shut in 2007.

The building’s owners, The Durst Organization and Bank of America, will use the money from a consortium of five banks to pay back a $950 million loan on the 51-story , 2.1 million-square-foot tower that opened last year. The rest of the funds will be used to repay investors and finish work on the environmentally-friendly tower, which its owners hope will receive the highest ranking from the U.S. Green Building Council.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.yfs733Ppvk

Bank of America, Durst Get $1.28 Billion to Refinance NYC Tower

By Henry Goldman
June 26

...The 55-story tower, a 50/50 joint venture of Bank of America and the Durst Organization, overlooks Bryant Park and Manhattan’s main library branch at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue. The building is 98 percent leased and scheduled for completion in 2010, Barowitz said.

[Lecom]

This building is STILL under construction, it is a massive and complex project. It will probably go into the completed section sometime in 2010.

Interestingly, while they are still finishing the top, the lower floors have been pccupied by office workers for over half a year, at least. My Godfather's daughter works there.

[NYguy]

^ I imagine the Freedom Tower will be the same...


OZONEHOWARD (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29981127@N06/3269393680/sizes/l/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3269393680_aa1b28d334_b.jpg

[NYguy]

PVCG (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pvcg/3787970914/sizes/l/in/set-72157621918142610/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3787970914_b795839b08_b.jpg

[NYguy]

braesikalla (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightinfusion/3803959794/sizes/o/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/3803959794_5fae9a8eaf_o.jpg


Arwedus (http://www.flickr.com/photos/arwedus/3718720326/sizes/o/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3718720326_daae78568c_o.jpg

[NYguy]

jossomch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jossomch/3802984744/sizes/l/in/set-72157621863717511/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3802984744_39372b40bd_b.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3802850030_1cefa47e98_b.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/3802077057_706c030f6a_b.jpg

[RoldanTTLB]

You might see other stuff in these photos, but they're being posted here, so tough.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SoTVL6kanvI/AAAAAAAADMY/PIu-ETchDC8/s800/DSC02054.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3T08TVQ0h2g/SoTVOQHZ5UI/AAAAAAAADMc/yS4SdRNnRfQ/s800/DSC02057.JPG

[spwelan]

s_OOYMR2Iik&feature=player_profilepage

[meh_cd]

A different perspective from early July.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3818802110_17f62c2130_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34471641@N07/3818802110/sizes/l/in/set-72157620967620515/

[NYguy]

^ I like the march of spires west, but I still think the Chrysler needs some balance on the east side..

[antinimby]

And we would have gotten that with Solow's Con Ed East side sites but the NIMBYs killed off any chances of getting anything tall or interesting on the East side.

[NYguy]

And we would have gotten that with Solow's Con Ed East side sites but the NIMBYs killed off any chances of getting anything tall or interesting on the East side.

Oooh, bad memories!....:yuck: I had actually forgotten about our little stalled east side development.

[antinimby]

They wouldn't have been stalled if the NIMBYs didn't delay the whole process (ala Atlantic Yards). Solow actually began prepping the sites I think back in 2004 so most of the sites would have been built or in the process of finishing up by now.

So infuriating.

[Duffstuff129]

Somehow I managed to completely not remember this at all. Can anyone post some renderings of what was going to be built? I'm curious and Google Images hasn't helped.

[NYguy]

They wouldn't have been stalled if the NIMBYs didn't delay the whole process (ala Atlantic Yards). Solow actually began prepping the sites I think back in 2004 so most of the sites would have been built or in the process of finishing up by now.

Not to stray off topic, but that development was continuosly watered down to the point where I honestly didn't care anymore. But back to the point of what I was saying about another spire anchoring the east side, really that Con Ed site should have been something dramatic to draw excitement back to the east side. Right now, all of the new developments are on the west side of Manhattan (west of 5th). All of the energy is on the west side. I know there are few sites to develop on the east side, but that's exactly why the oppurtunity should have been taken to make a statement at the Con Ed site. Really, when was the last time anything interesting was built on the east side? Imagine, if you will, a Tower Verre on that site, with the march of spires from the Times, BofA, Chrysler, etc.

[NYguy]

I've never seen the spire in any kind of light at night, but I guess the Times Square glow shines off a bit in this photo...

VN3009 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33746847@N03/3835570168/sizes/o/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3835570168_e0e80aa5b7_o.jpg

[NYguy]

Posted in the Hudson Yards thread...

http://curbed.com/archives/2009/08/20/rumblings_bumblings_responses_javits_center_redux.php?o=0

http://cdn0.curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/2533/3834059283_4765d55d19_o.jpg
The spires of Times Square rising in the east.

http://cdn0.curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/3287/3834852348_5a50d1fdda_o.jpg
The crown of 1 Bryant Park points the way to the new Javits shed.

[alexjon]

Aghaghagahgaghaghagh, I love it. A third of my NY photos were of BOAT.

[NYguy]

alice parks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22812237@N08/3849689555/sizes/l/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2532/3849689555_89bfd95f57_b.jpg