Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
Located at a significant intersection of two prominent Avenues: 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue, the building volume gradually steps down from 4th Avenue towards 3rd Avenue, addressing the surrounding neighborhood context. This privileged site encourages the design of a symbolic and lasting building to stand as a landmark within the Greenwich Village neighborhood. In response, Maki and Associates developed two distinct building envelopes that will complement and further accentuate this stepped building volume, as well as address the unique site location of 51 Astor Place. To address the large monolithic buildings along 4th Avenue, this portion of the building will be sheathed in a dark-tint, structurally glazed, unitized curtain wall system to conform to the existing streetscape. In stark contrast to the monolithic quality of the 4th Avenue facade, the 3rd Avenue facade will be sheathed in a unitized curtain wall system with silver vertical louvers. Depending on the angle in which the vertical louvers are viewed, the facade achieves varying degrees of transparency, continuously changing in appearance.