Since the ground was broken for One Vanderbilt in October, the New York City site of the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed supertall has undergone some big changes. Just last week, crews were busy pouring the huge foundation for what will become the tallest office tower in Midtown Manhattan. The numbers tell the story: 8,500 tons of concrete, 420 trucks, and 16 hours, all equating to a massive job for one of the largest skyscrapers in the country.

A rendered image of One Vanderbilt, image courtesy of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

Developed by SL Green, the 431-metre tower will include 65 floors, 45 of them dedicated to state-of-the-art office space. It will also come with 30,000 square feet of amenity space, a public observation deck, a new public plaza, and direct connections to the subway and Metro-North. Over $200 million worth of station improvements will provide extra capacity for more than 65,000 passengers heading into the subway at Grand Central–42nd Street.

Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building loom in the background, image by Will Ellis via Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

The building's tapering and interlocking volumes draw parallels to the proportion and setbacks of the nearby Chrysler Building. The base of the building is intended to interact with Grand Central Station across the street. Pushed back from the roadway by about three metres, the building respectfully nods to the beautiful Beaux Arts facade. 

Concrete boom pumps help form the foundation, image by Will Ellis via Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

The demolition of multiple commercial buildings opened up a new view of the magnificent train station, with new photos of the construction showing how the building forms an elegant backdrop to the extensive work being conducted at the site. The western facade now exposed, as the Chrysler Building looms in the background, the scene makes for some captivating images. Completion has been estimated for September 2020.

One Vanderbilt under construction, image by Will Ellis via Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

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