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.