Designed by SHoP Architects, 111 West 57th Street is a supertall residential skyscraper that pushes the limits of what is possible within the Midtown Manhattan zoning envelope. With an extraordinary width-to-height ratio of 1:24, it is considered the world’s skinniest skyscraper, rising to approximately 427 meters in height while measuring only about 13.7 meters wide at its narrowest point. This extreme slenderness gives the tower a striking presence on the New York skyline and makes it the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Supertall skyscrapers are defined as structures measuring between 300 and 600 meters in height, a category into which this tower clearly falls.
The architectural expression is defined by the use of terra-cotta cladding that rises along the east and west façades, visually unifying the tower’s massing in the tradition of classic New York skyscrapers such as One Wall Street, 30 Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building. A decorative crown measuring 91 meters in height completes the composition and reinforces its classical references.
The tower was announced in 2013 and broke ground in 2014, although construction stalled in 2017 for financial reasons before reaching its full height in 2018. According to SHoP Architects, the structure was built using the highest-strength concrete in the world. A major challenge of the project was the development of a façade system capable of supporting the weight of the terra-cotta cladding. Concrete shear walls back the east and west façades, allowing only select punched window openings. These openings incorporate vision glass, while the remaining panels contain shadow boxes within a unitized curtain wall system. The building contains approximately 53,140 m2 of floor area and accommodates one full-floor residence per level, along with 14 additional residences in the adjacent landmarked building, for a total of 60 residences offering panoramic views of Central Park and the surrounding city.
