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.

Classified as a supertall residential skyscraper, 432 Park Avenue is a focal point on the Midtown Manhattan skyline. In order to realize this building, developer Harry Macklowe from Macklowe Properties bought the land upon which the Drake Hotel stood and proceeded to demolish the hotel with the vision of building a residential skyscraper. Originally, the building was planned to reach 1,300 feet but capped off at a whopping 1,396 feet after construction, making it the tallest residential building in the world and the second tallest building in New York City. Construction began in September of 2011 and was completed in December of 2015.

The architect behind the vision is Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly, who said his inspiration for the structure was the square, the "purest geometric structure" as well as a trash can designed by the late Australian architect Josef Hoffmann.

Rendering of 432 Park Avenue, image via Rafael Viñoly Architects

The building offers a variety of residential styles and sizes, ranging from a 351-square-foot studio to a six-bedroom, seven-bath penthouse currently under agreement for $95 million. Some amenities included are a gallery, a fitness gym, golf training facilities, private dining rooms, and screening rooms.

432 Park Avenue on the Manhattan Skyline, image by Arturo Pardavila III via Flickr Creative Commons

The building stayed true to its project renderings. 432 Park Avenue boasts 84 storeys, each with six 100-square-foot windows per face. In a feature that is even more visually prominent than the renderings suggested, two storeys for every 12 — including the window grid and interior space — are left open to allow the wind to pass through and reduce the sway. The square shape and the sheer height of 432 Park Avenue offer unparalleled views of New York City "from the Hudson to the East River, from the Bronx to Brooklyn, and from Central Park to the Atlantic Ocean."

We will return next Friday with another comparison!