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In just a few years, this tower by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill will be the tallest residential building on Planet Earth

In just a few years, this tower by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill will be the tallest residential building on Planet Earth

The tallest of Manhattan’s rising supertall towers has been revealed—and believe it or not, the building that will make New York’s current crop of skyscrapers look like walkups is very, very glassy.

Real estate blog New York YIMBY obtained the first official renderings for 217 West 57th Street—the under-construction building that has been dubbed the “Nordstrom Tower” for the department store that will occupy its base. Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill designed the tower and Extell is developing the project.

The roof of the hotel and condo tower will reach 1,479 feet, but the building doesn’t stop there—no, it just keeps climbing. When all is said and done, Nordstrom Tower’s spire will stand at 1,775 feet tall—just one foot below One World Trade Center‘s very historically-minded height of 1,776 feet (spire included). But since One World Trade has a significantly taller spire, the 57th Street supertall is actually the bigger building. And since Midtown’s elevation above sea level is about 70 feet higher than Lower Manhattan, YIMBY noted that the new building will actually reach 1,850 feet above sea level—making it the tallest residential building on planet earth.

Since the building won’t be completed until 2018, it’s probably best for people to get their Central Park sunshine now, as the new crop of 57th Street towers will be throwing some literal shade on New York’s backyard.


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