Building Tour: The American Copper Buildings
East facade of the towers from the East River.
Construction has wrapped up at JDS Development Group's American Copper Buildings, the twin residential rental towers at 626 First Avenue on the East River waterfront in Manhattan. Designed by SHoP Architects, the sloping 41 and 49-story towers feature copper cladding on their north and south facades that is achieved by laminating a thin sheet of copper to stainless steel, with a gypsum-based composite panel in between. The copper panels will naturally patina with time, transitioning from their initial shine to a more muted tone. East and west facades feature a glass curtain wall that allows for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline.
Northeast corner of the towers from the East River.
Looking up at the skybridge.
Garden
A garden designed by SCAPE anchors the northeast corner of the site. The landscape architects envisioned the park as both an active civic space and a functional water filtration system. According to SCAPE’s website, the park is designed as “a layered water-collection system that responds to multiple types of inundation.”
Amenities
The two towers are connected by a three-story skybridge at the 27th to the 29th floor that houses amenities such as a fitness center, a 75 foot indoor lap pool, and residents lounge.
Residents lounge.
Residents lounge.
Ceiling detail at the residents lounge.
Fitness center entry.
Juice bar.
Fitness center.
View to the west from the fitness center.
Rock climbing wall in the fitness center.
Fitness center.
Stair detail in the fitness center.
Closeup of the east facade at the skybridge.
Tile wall detail.
Pool floor detail.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Interior Design: K&Co; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
Construction Update: The American Copper Buildings
The American Copper Buildings amongst the Manhattan skyline.
Construction is wrapping up at JDS Development Group's American Copper Buildings, the twin residential rental towers at 626 First Avenue on the East River waterfront in Manhattan. Designed by SHoP Architects, the sloping 41 and 49-story towers are connected by a skybridge filled with amenities such as an indoor lap pool and residents' lounge.
View from the East River.
The north and south facades of both towers are clad in copper panels that will naturally patina with time, transitioning from their initial shine to a more muted tone. East and west facades feature a glass curtain wall that allows for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline.
Southwest corner
West facade detail.
South façade detail.
Looking up at the north facade.
Signage at the west tower.
This week, the development marks its official leasing launch and the first residents begin moving in. Residences range in size from studio to three-bedrooms, with 761 units spread amongst the two towers.
At the west tower, residents are welcomed home by a lobby with 25 foot ceilings and a view onto the future landscaped park and fountain. The palette of materials include metal panels and thresholds, geometric walls of wood slats, and chevron patterned stone floors. Interior design was led by K&Co.
Residential lobby at the west tower.
Lobby chandellier.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Interior Design: K&Co; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
American Copper Buildings
JDS Development Group re-brands its twin towers at 626 First Avenue and opens up the skybridge for a construction tour.
JDS Development Group has re-branded its twin residential rental towers at 626 First Avenue on the East River waterfront in Manhattan. Designed by SHoP Architects, the towers will now be known as the American Copper Buildings. The change came alongside an event to unveil the skybridge, which connects the sloping 41 and 49-story towers with amenities such as an indoor lap pool and residents' lounge. Structure for the bridge has been completed with cladding yet to come.
Curtain wall installation continues for the project's signature copper cladding on the north and south facades, with only a few floors left to be enclosed on either tower. The east and west facades feature a glass curtain wall that allows for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline.
Construction is slated to wrap up on both towers by 2017.
Double height amenity space.
Inside the top level of the skybridge.
Close-up of the copper and glass north facade.
A view of the Empire State Building and the copper facade from the skybridge.
Close-up of the south copper and glass facade.
East facade of the skybridge under construction.
Skybridge structure.
Skybridge structure detail.
View of the Queens waterfront and Roosevelt Island from the skybridge.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
Superstructure has topped out at JDS Development Group and SHoP Architects' two-tower project on the East River waterfront.
Superstructure has topped out at the south tower of 626 First Avenue, the two tower residential development from JDS Development Group and SHoP Architects. This milestone follows the topping out of the north tower in January. The 41 and 49 story residential rental towers slope towards each other with a connecting bridge that will host an indoor lap pool and lounge for the residents. Work continues on the structure for the bridge.
Curtain wall installation continues for the project's signature copper cladding on the north and south facades, surpassing the two-thirds mark. The east and west facades feature a glass curtain wall that allows for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline.
Construction is slated to wrap up on both towers by 2017.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
The sloping towers of JDS's waterfront development at 626 First Avenue are rising fast and getting their connecting bridge of future residential amenities.
Superstructure is close to topping out at the north tower of 626 First Avenue, the two tower residential development from JDS Development Group and SHoP Architects. The 41 and 49 story residential rental towers slope towards each other with a connecting bridge that will host an indoor lap pool and lounge for the residents. Work has begun on the structure for the bridge as the first of the steel trusses has been erected.
Also marking another project milestone, the exterior envelope for both towers has reached the halfway mark. The project's signature copper cladding is featured on the north and south facades, while a glass curtain wall on the east and west facades allow for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline.
Construction is slated to wrap up on both towers by 2017.
Looking north on First Avenue at East 34th Street.
Close-up of the skybridge under construction between the north (left) and south (right) towers.
Southwest corner of the site from First Avenue and East 35th Street.
Looking up at the south facade of the north (left) and south (right) towers from East 35th Street.
Looking up at the south facade of the north (left) and south (right) towers from East 35th Street.
Close-up of the south facade of the southeast tower.
Looking up at the south facade of the south tower from East 35th Street.
Southeast corner of the south tower from the East River Esplanade.
Looking north from the East River Esplanade.
East facade of the north (right) and south (left) towers from the East River Ferry terminal at East 35th Street.
Looking up at the north (right) and south (left) towers from the East River ferry terminal.
East facade of the north (right) and south (left) towers from the East River Ferry terminal at East 35th Street.
Northeast corner of the north tower.
Skybridge under construction between the north and south towers.
North facade of the south (left) and north (right) towers.
Northwest corner of the north tower.
West facade of the north tower.
West facade of both towers from
Architects: SHoP Architects; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
Construction progress continues at 626 First Avenue, the two tower residential development from JDS Development Group. Designed by SHoP Architects, the 41 and 49 story towers have almost reached the half way mark for superstructure. As the two towers slope towards each other, a bridge will connect them and host an indoor lap pool and lounge as amenities for the residents. The project's signature building envelope features copper cladding on the north and south facades of both towers, equaling 4.25 million pounds of raw copper according to the newly installed construction signage. A glass curtain wall on the east and west facades allow for expansive views of the East River waterfront and the Midtown skyline. The cladding is furthest along on the northwest tower, with glass and copper surpassing the 11th floor. Construction is slated to wrap up on both towers by 2017.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail, Park; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
Much progress is being made at 626 First Avenue, a two tower residential development from JDS Development Group. Located in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, the SHoP Architects' designed towers will rise 41 and 49 stories and slope towards each other, with a connecting sky bridge. Currently, structure has reached the 20th floor on the north tower, while the south tower lags behind at the sixth floor. Exterior wall installation has also begun on the north tower, with the copper and glass panels reaching the sixth floor. Constructed is slated to finish by early 2017.
Northwest corner of the site from First Avenue.
Closeup view of the copper and glass facade on the northwest corner of the north tower.
Looking up at the copper and glass north facade of the north building.
Northeast corner of the site from East 36th Street with the north (right) and south (left) towers.
Closeup view of the copper and glass facade of the northeast corner of the north tower.
The East River waterfront with 626 First Avenue rising on the far right.
A view of the site from the East River.
A view of the site from the East River.
A view of the site from the East River ferry terminal.
South facade of the south tower from East 35th Street.
Closeup view of the structure of the north (left) and south (right) towers from East 35th Street.
Southwest corner of the south tower from East 35th Street.
Southwest corner of the site with the north tower (left), south tower (right), and PS 281 (center).
Looking north on First Avenue.
Looking up at the west facade of the north tower (left) from First Avenue.
West facade of the north tower.
Closeup of the west facade of the north tower.
The East River waterfront with 626 First Avenue rising on the far left.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
Facade installation is underway at JDS Development Group's 626 First Avenue, a two tower rental site in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. The project is one of many currently under construction in New York by SHoP Architects, a firm that has proven to be innovators of both form and facade. Here they have employed 41 and 49 story towers that slope towards each other, with a connecting sky bridge that houses an indoor pool and lounge. Currently, superstructure has reached the twelfth floor on the northwest tower, while the southeast tower lags behind at the third floor. The two towers will be clad in glass curtain wall on the east and west facades, while the more solid north and south walls feature openings set amongst copper cladding. Both facade types are now present on site, with installation of facade panels on the second floor of the northwest tower on the three primary facades. The design of the glass panels is fairly typical, with glass spanning from slab to slab without a visible spandrel panel. The less common opaque copper panels look to be a stunning feature that will help the building stand out on its waterfront location. Construction is scheduled to finish by early 2017.
P.S. 281 at the southwest corner of the site from First Avenue.
West facade of P.S. 281 (right) and the northwest tower (left).
The northwest tower (left) and P.S. 281 (right) from First Avenue.
Northwest tower's facade.
Northwest tower's facade.
North facade of the northwest tower.
Northeast corner of the northwest tower.
East facade of the northwest tower.
Northwest tower.
North facade of the southeast tower.
Southeast corner of the site from East 35th Street.
Looking north from East 35th Street.
Southwest corner of the site from East 35th Street.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Landscape Architects: SCAPE; Structural Engineers: WSP; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
Superstructure has reached the seventh floor at JDS Development Group's 626 First Avenue, a two tower, 800-unit luxury rental development in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. Designed by SHoP Architects, the 41 and 49 story towers slope towards each other, with a connecting sky bridge that houses an indoor pool and lounge. The two towers will be clad in glass curtain wall on the east and west facades, while the more solid north and south walls feature openings set amongst copper cladding. Situated next to the East River, both towers should have expansive waterfront views and the convenience of close proximity to the Midtown terminal for the East River Ferry.
Currently, only the tower at the northwest corner of the site has reached above ground with superstructure. The second tower at the southeast corner should finish foundations soon and start to rise. Construction is scheduled to finish by early 2017.
P.S. 281 at the southwest corner of the site from First Avenue.
P.S. 281 at the southwest corner of the site from First Avenue.
The northwest tower from First Avenue.
West facade of P.S. 281 (right) and the northwest tower (left).
The northwest tower (left) and P.S. 281 (right) from First Avenue.
North facade of the northwest tower from the plaza of Manhattan Place (Costas Kondylis, 1985).
Northeast corner of the site from FDR Drive.
Looking west from FDR Drive.
Southeast corner of the site from FDR Drive.
Detail of the northwest tower's structure.
Looking north from East 35th Street.
Looking west toward the site from the East River Esplanade.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Landscape Architects: SCAPE; Structural Engineers: WSP; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.
626 First Avenue
Superstructure has reached above ground at SHoP Architects' rental towers on First Avenue, across from the Midtown terminal of the East River Ferry. Developed by JDS Development Group, also responsible for SHoP's supertall skyscraper at 111 West 57th Street, the project includes 800 rental units spread amongst two sloping towers of 41 and 49 stories. Connecting the two towers will be a sky bridge containing an indoor pool and lounge. Other amenities include a rooftop deck and infinity pool, fitness center, and spa. The two towers will be clad in glass curtain wall on the east and west facades, while the more solid north and south walls feature openings set amongst copper cladding. Also included in the project is a privately owned public park on the northeast corner of the site. The SCAPE designed park will feature an interactive fountain and limestone and granite paths within the 38,000 square feet of open space. Work on the foundations has been ongoing for much of last year but the taller tower at the northwest corner of the block has reached the third floor. The second tower has yet to reach ground level. Construction should be complete by early 2017.
P.S. 281 at the southwest corner of the site from First Avenue.
Northwest corner of the site from First Avenue.
Northeast corner of tower one from East 36th Street.
East facade of tower one.
Northeast corner of the site from FDR Drive.
Looking west to the site from the East River Ferry terminal at East 34th Street.
Looking west toward the site from the East River Esplanade.
Architects: SHoP Architects; Landscape Architects: SCAPE; Structural Engineers: WSP; Developer: JDS Development Group; Program: Residential, Retail; Location: Murray Hill, New York, NY; Completion: 2017.