New York City is set to once again redefine its iconic skyline with the addition of several supertall skyscrapers over the next few years. These upcoming architectural marvels are not just feats of engineering; they are symbols of the city’s unending pursuit of growth and innovation. As the skyline braces for these towering additions, we delve into the details of the top 5 tallest upcoming skyscraper projects that promise to elevate New York City’s urban landscape.
From luxurious residential towers offering panoramic views of the city to state-of-the-art commercial spaces designed by world-renowned architects, each project showcases cutting-edge design and sustainability features.
270 Park Avenue
Designer: Foster + Partners
Height: 1,388ft (423m)
Status: Completed
270 Park Avenue, designed by Foster + Partners for JPMorgan Chase’s new headquarters, represents a significant step forward in sustainable urban development. This 60-story tower will reach a height of 423 meters and will be New York City’s largest all-electric structure. Its power will come from renewable energy sourced from a New York State hydroelectric plant.
The design incorporates several innovative features aimed at enhancing the work environment and overall building sustainability. Key elements include architectural flexibility, superior indoor air quality that surpasses current sustainability guidelines, and a focus on wellness, health, and sustainability. The project employs a pioneering structural framework designed to overcome the limitations of the site, using a fan-column structure and triangular bracing to allow for a compact footprint while extending views from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue.
Moreover, the building’s ground-level outdoor space will be expanded through a stilted base design, providing greater public access and interaction with green areas and plazas. This approach not only creates a healthier, more inviting urban space but also addresses the need for more sustainable and adaptable urban landscapes. The ambitious outdoor space will incorporate and transform the urban environment with features such as enlarged walkways and a spacious public plaza on Madison Avenue with natural vegetation and amenities for the community.
740 8th Avenue
Designer: ODA with SLCE Architects
Height: 1,067ft (325m)
Status: Under construction
Expected Completion Date: 2027
Designed by ODA Architects, 740 8th Avenue is set to be a standout addition to the Manhattan skyline. This mixed-use tower, developed by Extell, will reach a height of 1,067 feet, making it a significant architectural landmark in Midtown Manhattan. The building is set to provide a complementary mix of hotel accommodations, fine dining, retail shopping, and unique entertainment options, including a 260-foot thrill ride, across its 56 stories.
The project aims to be a major tourist attraction, with early renderings suggesting a quirky and distinctive design that includes three primary exterior components. The base will house 825 hotel rooms and retail spaces, while a smaller top section will feature a restaurant and a VIP area. A thin stem will connect these two sections, offering a 260-foot indoor freefall tower drop for an adrenaline-pumping experience. Three floors of observation decks are also planned, providing panoramic views of the city.
This ambitious project stands on a site with a complex history, previously intended for a million-square-foot office tower by Boston Properties and Stephen Ross’ Related Companies, which was canceled in 2008. Over the past decade, Extell has gradually acquired parcels of land for this new vision, navigating city rules to avoid the need for a special permit for the construction.
520 Fifth Avenue
Designer: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Height: 1,000ft (304m)
Status: Under construction
Expected Completion Date: 2025
520 Fifth Avenue, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), will be another eye-catching addition to the Manhattan skyline. This 1,000-foot-tall tower is expected to be finished sometime in 2025 and will incorporate a facade with fluted casing arched windows arranged in modular bundles that vary in height, adding a modern twist to the architectural traditions of its Midtown Manhattan surroundings.
Located near iconic landmarks such as the New York Public Library and Grand Central Terminal, the building draws inspiration from the area’s architectural heritage, translating the arches of these landmarks into a contemporary motif. The design includes asymmetrical stepped volumes, creating terraces and adding visual variety to the supertall structure.
The mixed-use program of the building will offer luxury residences at the top and Class A office spaces flanked by terraces below. The project aims to blend Art Deco sensibilities with modern edges, embodying the spirit of its prestigious Fifth Avenue location.
262 Fifth Avenue
Designer: Meganom Architects
Height: 860ft (262m)
Status: Under construction
Expected Completion Date: Early 2024
262 Fifth Avenue in New York City is a highly anticipated addition to the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan. Designed by Meganom Architects and developed by Boris Kuzinez of Five Points Development, this 54-story residential skyscraper is slated to reach a height of 860 feet. It will house 26 luxurious residential units spread across 139,168 square feet, along with 10,850 square feet of retail space on the first two floors.
Significant progress on the construction is already underway, with the reinforced concrete superstructure slowly emerging above street level. The tower’s design features distinctive circular porthole-like windows on its eastern elevation, surrounded by reflective metallic paneling. The northern and southern faces of the building will boast floor-to-ceiling glass to maximize the views of Midtown and Lower Manhattan, while the western side is expected to house the core with mechanical systems, elevators, and staircases.
Despite some adjustments to the tower’s original height and design, the project has retained its ambitious architectural vision. The design will culminate in a rectangular frame covering an open-air communal roof deck, with a secondary opening around the two-thirds mark anticipated to house a private outdoor terrace.
343 Madison Avenue
Designer: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Height: 844ft (257m)
Status: Under construction
Expected Completion Date: 2026
Yet another creation from the design team over at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates set to rise in Midtown is 343 Madison Avenue. This 844-foot skyscraper is a commercial development spearheaded by Boston Properties and will occupy a 25,000-square-foot site close to Grand Central Terminal. The project will feature a blend of innovative architecture and functional design, with creative design touches such as floor-to-ceiling glass with indented spandrels accentuating each floor plate, a double-height lobby, and a corner entrance that will provide direct access to the Long Island Railroad.
The building is further distinguished by its interspersed setbacks, highlighted by large multi-story trusses, offering outdoor terraces and seating areas, all enveloped by bronze-colored walls. At night, a bright lighting scheme will divide the tower into distinct sections of office floors. The top of the building will also host an encased green space, for an added touch of nature. On the practical side, the core of the building will be strategically placed to maximize the usable space within, covered with a mix of metal panels and glass strips revealing parts of the emergency staircases.
As New York City’s skyline continues to evolve, the addition of these five towering skyscrapers promises to redefine urban architecture and living. These towers will not only expand the city’s architectural legacy but will hopefully contribute to New York’s commitment to sustainability and green building practices.
What future architectural projects are you most excited about?
