NEW YORK | 685 First Ave (Con Ed dev) | 459 FT | 42 FLOORS

[Hudson11]

nice. I hope this design for "708 First" is back on the table. Its a shame the NIMBYs shortened it.

https://www.6sqft.com/richard-meier-...south-complex/

800-foot office tower once envisioned at 708 First Avenue. Due to community opposition, upon approval the tower, along with all others, was scaled down in height. Courtesy Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM).

[tdawg]

The East Side seems to bring out the worst in our starchitects. See Norman Foster's hideous residential tower by the UN.

[chris08876]

Credit: nyc1

[chris08876]

A filler nonetheless. At 459 ft, will be barely noticeable. Only thing this has going for it is being near the water.


Credit: JC_Heiights

[Zerton]

It's minimal. I like it. Not everything needs to be flash as long as it's well done with quality materials. A little glass is going to look good next to all those brick buildings.

[chris08876]

Credit: Acacio

[chris08876]

Pic by me. Taken 6/23/17.

[mrnyc]

hey there is a little bit of black glass facade on it now -- a big leap for a meier tower!

cash richard meier ousside how bout dat?

[chris08876]

Credit: Gigi A

[aquablue]

A decent revival of a modernist black box from the 50s with a difference. It's lazy design, but I think it suits the area and complements the amazing UN building, one of my favorite modernist towers of the period.

[aquablue]

Nice box.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by aquablue

Nice box.

If only it were twice the height. It would make a nice bookend with Trump World Tower.

[Submariner]

Well...American Copper proves that at least some good designs can emerge on the east side...

Hopefully something will come of that fallow site in the foreground. How many parcels like that exist in the city? None, I'd guess...

[NOPA]

Do we know what's happening with those 3 empty blocks?

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by NOPA

Do we know what's happening with those 3 empty blocks?

good question -- this was all i found that wasnt very old

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by NOPA

Do we know what's happening with those 3 empty blocks?

There have been so many plans and revisions for this property. This is where we are.

Construction work has begun and the site is now being excavated. Completion is scheduled for 2018.

By that time, the designer and builder might have a better sense of what they mean to do with the vast ditch between the new tower and FDR Drive.

Architectural firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) may still be tapped for the proposed commercial tower. There is also a planned public-private park of about 1 acre conceived by landscape architect James Corner, one of the creators of the High Line. But Mr. Solow says he’ll be waiting for this project to wrap up before making any final decisions.

Those would include, presumably, whether Mr. Meier would be going back to black for the other buildings. The architect says he likes the new look: 685’s tinted windows, perfectly clear from the interior, will pick up the changing daylight in a way not dissimilar from his beloved white.

[chris08876]

Credit: 5Bfilms

[photoLith]

Tak about bland and boring, oh well.

[dc_denizen]

I drive by this a lot...it's pretty uninteresting, I must say.

might improve if they cleaned up the vacant lot in front.

[chris08876]

This would be more suitable closer to the Citigroup Tower or Near the Lipstick building and not by the water. Its quite sinister, and soul crushing. The kind of place where people jump out the window. Reminds me of 270 Park Avenue.

A friend of mine works at 1 Chase Manhattan in Lower M, and the place is really strict. That corporate strictness that strips identity.

In sum, this tower is soul crushing. Has that JP Morgan vibe to it.