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The attention-grabbing pyramidal structure along the Hudson River in Manhattan, which has garnered significant international interest, has officially completed construction. Built for the Durst Organization by Danish architectural practice Bjarke Ingels Group, VIΛ 57 West's 32 storeys embrace a union between the classic American skyscraper and the communal space of a European courtyard, creating a new building typology that fosters a heightened quality of life.
Durst Organization appointed the Danish firm to the project in 2010, and began construction one year later. Though residents began moving into the building in May, minor construction work continued to fit out the interiors and apply finishing touches to the facade. It occupies most of a city block at West 57th Street and the West Side Highway, permitting unobstructed vistas of the Hudson River Park.
The 830,000-square-foot structure features a 22,000-square-foot pocket of lush green space and gardens within its centre. Referencing Copenhagen's urban oases, the natural landscape includes both shaded and sunny spaces birthed by the unique angular forms of the building. The northeast corner of the 137-metre (450-foot) 'Courtscraper' stretches upwards to maximize views, creating a hyperbolic paraboloid. This configuration allows the low western sun to permeate the courtyard. The central stand-out space is directly connected to the lobby, which stands adjacent to a vibrant commercial program that includes a movie theatre, restaurant, and the first U.S. retail store for the American Kennel Club.
When residents are finished socializing and relaxing in the courtyard, they can indulge in the numerous indoor amenities aimed to keep them active. Scattered around the building's centre are multiple lounges and event spaces, a golf simulator, theatre room, pool, basketball court, gym, and game rooms. Owing to its distinct shape and twist on traditional Manhattan massing, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) named VIΛ the Best Tall Building in the Americas as part of its 2016 Tall Buildings Award.
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