1.4K 
We all know that buildings don't always turn out like the renderings. Last-minute changes and real-life materials can all cause discrepancies between the vision and reality of a project. In our weekly Flash Forward Friday feature, we take a look at how different projects stack up.
Construction on The Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown (also known as 30 Park Place) began in 2013, and the project evokes the persona of the classic Art Deco skyscrapers that have shaped Manhattan. Developed by Silverstein Properties and designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, master of New Classical architecture, the 82-storey building also contains 157 private residences on its upper floors.
Renderings of the project indicated the use of precast concrete — convincingly resembling limestone — as the primary exterior cladding components, while bay windows and metal screens interrupted the solidity of the facade. The illustrations showed numerous setbacks near the crown of the tower, giving way to full-floor penthouses and luxurious terraces.
The project was officially completed in September 2016. Though the precast panels are perhaps a shade darker than originally portrayed, the building's elegant geometry and high-end exterior finishing were executed according to the renderings.
