Currently shrouded in black, as if mourning its own impending demise, the former headquarters of the American Bible Society is set to come down in the coming months to make way for Avalonbay Communities' 1865 Broadway. The original 12-storey Brutalist tower — designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and built in 1965 — is set to be replaced by a 32-storey tower from the same firm. Set to rise at the corner of Broadway and West 61st Street in Midtown Manhattan, the new tower is expected to be completed by 2018. 

End of Days for the American Bible Society, image by Forum contributor towerpower123

Following the demolition of the modern glass lobby addition, the entirety of the original structure was draped in a protective shroud before work crews began the process of bringing the structure down. 

The new tower will bring a contemporary aesthetic to the site, as the glass- and spandrel-clad tower will rise from a much broader five-storey podium, which will help ease the new development into its immediate urban context. 

Original 1965 tower, with modern addition, prior to demolition, image via Google Street View

A fresh take on the retro-inspired use of spandrels and recessed windows, playing off both the site's Brutalist predecessor, and the vintage of several of the surrounding buildings, 1865 Broadway's exterior will feature increasingly large windows from bottom to top, while the golden spandrel separating the panes will gradually decrease in width in an inverse relationship to the size of the windows. The overall visual effect provided by this arrangement will be one of slenderness, especially as viewed when looking up from street level. 

American Bible Society at the start of demolition in late 2015, image by Forum contributor towerpower123

The five-storey podium of the new structure will occupy the entirety of the site, bringing 70,000 square feet of retail to the vibrant Lincoln Square neighbourhood. Rising above this, the remaining 27 storeys of the tower portion will be home to a mix of residential uses, with floors six to 22 comprised of 131 rental units, ranging from studios to four bedrooms, while floors 23 to 32 will be given over to luxury condos, with units ranging from two and three bedrooms, as well as a single four-bedroom penthouse suite at the top, coming in at just under 4,000 square feet. Once complete, 1865 Broadway will be a welcome addition to Midtown Manhattan, the new tower both an homage and suitable modern-day replacement for what came before. 

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.