Friday, June 15, 2012

Skyscrapers Are Back In The NYC Skyline

Following the devastating 9/11 attacks and the destruction of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center, there was a sentiment expressed that the attacks meant the end of the skyscraper, particularly here in the United States and New York City in particular.

While supertall buildings have gone up in the Middle East and South Asia, there's no lack of skyscraper construction in New York City. There's two dozen new buildings that are underway, including the four skyscrapers at the World Trade Center (1, 2, 3, and 4WTC).

Among the new buildings are several luxury rental/condominum projects, combination hotel/residences, and office towers. Most are focused in Manhattan, but a few are in Brooklyn.

That doesn't include those towers that were built and occupied since 9/11, including 7WTC, the Goldman Sachs building, the Frank Gehry's 8 Spruce, and several towers in and around Times Square including the New York Times headquarters.

It's a pretty heady times for skyscraper construction, and while some are arguing that there's a lack of style among the latest American skyscrapers, I think that the new towers are following the mantra - form follows function while working within the confines of a New York City aesthetic.

That isn't to say that a few of the new buildings aren't working to blow away that aesthetic, including the Pyramid proposed for the far West Side (Hells Kitchen).

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