Bummer. If ever there was a new building going up in New York that needed a spire, it was this one. Somehow with the spires it looked more modern and futuristic. Now it's going from wow to oh.

I think the most absurd thing about the spire rule is that the Empire State Building's doesn't even count. It is an integral part of the building and probably the most iconic spire on the face of the Earth, and yet the CTBUH only counts it as an "antenna".

That I agree with. I also find it nuts that the Willis Tower isn't 1,729 ft and Hancock ~ 1,500 ft to spire. They make those towers, and if they lost them, i'd be a big hit. If anything, it adds to the imposing nature of the design. Evil looking towers, but that's what makes them great (their intimidating nature). Plus those pinnacles/spires are thick. Its not balsa wood like the NYT tower.

With the ESB, at night, it looks like the tower is actually 1450 ft due to the lighting. Possibly if the added cladding, it could count, but the CTBUH doesn't count communication equipment spires. Even if they are an integral part of the tower design. :(

To be clear, there are two parts to the top of the Empire State Building that function in two different ways. The dirigible (that bulky part) which is a spire, and is counted. Then there is the more slender part atop that which is an antenna, and so isn't counted. One is an integral part of the building's structure and design that has been there all along and will always be, while the other is not, and was added years later.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page. Everything above 1,250 feet is antenna.
http://www.lnl.com/esbantennas.htm

Most people probably see it as going from 1522 to 1550, so a 28 foot increase and a full solid 100 feet over the box on the roof of the sears tower, nothing to be too upset about, a spire is a spire although this one did look really cool.

This was expected though in a way. Seems like Barnett wanted to sell more units. Extra floors will add a couple of more. Those floors will command top dollar.

An absolute architectural dud. Hope not to see an AS+GG designed building in NYC ever again. Welcome to the ranks of Vinoly and Kaufman. Another ode to engineering and hapless indifference to beauty. It fits in perfectly with the travesty that is 432 Park. I guess this was inevitable. This has been garbage since the first rendering came out.

This one has been one of my favorites from the beginning, but I will agree that New York needs a little more architectural crescendo.

I for one am very excited to see this rise in the NY Skyline, this is going to be great looking from many angles in the boroughs, do I like the spire sure but with out the spire it will still make a big impact:tup: PS and yes it will surpass The Willis so that's a plus in my book.

The spire is a loss, however, it's Only 12 m shy of the Hong Kong ICC to roof. NY has finally got into the realm of 2000s Asian towers. Congrats. I always wanted NY to get a building around the level of the last group of Asian giants (the ICC, the SWFC, etc). It just seemed right for NYC to be up there with HK, the Asian financial center, given its global standing. Now to match the 2010's Asian giants. A 600m tower should be on the cards soon enough. Perhaps next decade..

Of course, I say this for fun and competitiveness, i.e, the game. Towers have nothing to do with a great city. Many of my favorite cities don't have many towers at all. What counts is the streets, overall architectural quality/urban design and the vibrancy. Just so you don't think I'm all into skyscrapers alone. The best city I would live in actually doesn't even have anything over 250m.

This tower used to be 1,428 feet tall, now it's 1,550 feet tall.

It also shares a corridor with towers U/C or recently built that are:
~1,423 feet tall
~1,397 feet tall
~1,005 feet tall
~950 feet tall

Not to mention, there is one 1,250 foot proposal to replace the dreadful Park Lane, another site being cleared for a tower of undetermined size, and yet another sizable assemblage controlled by Extell for what I can only imagine to be yet another 1,000+ foot proposal.

Spire or no spire, I think there is a lot to be happy about here.

As KevinfromTexas said, The antenna was added several years later.
In 1930, when built there was no necesitty of an antenna since there were no significant broadcasting requiriments.

When King Kong climbed the building, back in the thirties, there was no antenna. The 1250 feet are measured to the roof of the 102nd floor observatory (where King Kong is standing)

Anyway, I think that the antenna fits pretty well, And if in the future the antenna is no longer needed, it should be keeped or replaced with a more properly done spire.

https://howlingantiquity.files.wordp...-building.jpeg
https://howlingantiquity.wordpress.c...york-new-york/


https://findingmielke.files.wordpres...-new-york1.jpg
https://findingmielke.wordpress.com/...ding-postcard/

So the "massing" design is really the final design, and we've been looking at it for years? :no:

http://i0.wp.com/aasarchitecture.com...re03.jpg?w=474

Its so Ironic I could cry. And will honestly. But then be happy after because we are getting a new tallest!!!

Hi guys!

There is the photo compilation of the construction during the month of July:

• Video Link

Thanks!

I wish at least 100 real floors and 500 m for this skyscraper !!!!

Antenna?
 

The spire is gone, but what about a money generating transmitter? They can make it "look" like a spire like 1 WTC.

A spire like WTC1 has on this tower would be a travesty. Expected sales are projected to be 4.4 billion. Pays off for the tower, nice profit, and I don't think any sane developer would add an antenna masquerading as a spire to this tower. What would the clients think? That's like putting ketchup on filet mignon. Just isn't right, or ethical... ;)

No. That 1424' massing is not what we're getting. We are basically getting a taller version of the 1478' design that was presented in 2014, minus the spire (maybe)

I'm fully aware. I'm just playing :cheers: