Originally Posted by Busy Bee (Post 8006304)

The cladding is essentially a "rainscreen" where the finish material, in this case a very classy ogee terra cotta, floats over the real weather barrier and structural panel which here is faced in what appears to be aluminum and attached with stainless steel clips, brackets and hardware which can be adjusted. Absolute kudos to SHoP for insisting on this "imperfect" slightly misaligned look as it adds so much textural interest. I wasn't sure about it when I first saw the cladding mock-up but I love it seeing it rise.

Originally Posted by Prezrezc (Post 8006202)

Two questions, one rhetorical and one technical...in that order:

1. Where did they get the inspiration for the terra-cotta design?

2. Are the contours of the bronze component supposed to change as the tower rises further?

Originally Posted by JSsocal (Post 8006220)

You are seeing this building correctly, this is indeed terra cotta that is not directly a part of a masonry construction, but is instead clipped onto each facade panel in a pre-fabricated piece. Yes probably done for expansion/contraction, water handling, lighter weight, less labor, & ease of maintenance.

Grenfell tower in London? Completely different. That building affixed flammable insulation to the exterior of a concrete facade, and that insulation is what caught fire all the way up. This building acts more like a traditional curtain wall skyscraper instead of a masonry building, where the facade is built from non-combustible & fire-rated components and hangs on the structure.

Originally Posted by Koodoo25 (Post 8013595)

Glass on the northern side of the building is now visible from Central Park (Dec 8th)

Originally Posted by nylkoorB (Post 8014630)

Love the snow pics NYguy!