The tallest office tower in Midtown, One Vanderbilt connects directly to the city’s transportation network, blending private enterprise and the public realm.
New York’s Newest Icon
Along with the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, One Vanderbilt is one of three landmarks that define Manhattan’s skyline. Formally, the building’s massing comprises four interlocking and tapering volumes that spiral toward the sky, an elegant shape in sympathetic proportion to its neighboring icons.
At the base, a series of angled cuts organizes a visual procession to Grand Central, revealing the Vanderbilt corner of the terminal’s magnificent cornice: A view that has been obstructed for nearly a century.
The exterior wall is inspired by the century-old masonry of East Midtown. The implementation of terra cotta warms the new construction, while complimenting its historic context.
One Vanderbilt’s lobby ceiling is also clad in terra cotta, while a bespoke art installation reflects light and reinterprets the many diagonal features of the building. The core walls are clad in custom bronze flutes encased in glass.
A Transit-Oriented Tower
The base of the building joins the spatial sequence of Grand Central and forms a doorstep to the city, greeting thousands of commuters daily. An integrated complex of below-grade conditions offers connections to the terminal and an active, 14,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza on Vanderbilt Avenue.
Accomodating Commuters
The tower fully supports the new plan for East Side Access, which extends Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service to Grand Central. As new passengers are added to the space, One Vanderbilt’s below grade elements will be able to absorb the crowds into a comfortable, navigable environment.
On Time and Under Budget
The 1,401-foot, 67-story, 1.7 million-square-foot One Vanderbilt topped out in September 2019. Despite its scale, complexity, challenging site, and high-performance features, it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Partners on the project attribute this achievement to tight coordination, a steel-first sequence, and an all-star design and construction team, as well as the use of parametric models to coordinate all subcontractors at early design stages and prevent onsite clashes.
Project Details
One Vanderbilt isn’t just a new icon on the New York City skyline—it’s also a robust transit-oriented development, breathing new life into a cramped part of Midtown Manhattan.