In Progress: Beekman Tower / Frank Gehry
Rocco S Cetera
As Frank Gehry’s Beekman Tower rises in Lower Manhattan, we can’t help but wonder if the apartments in this undulating, rippling building will be snatched up as soon as possible. The tower is scheduled for leasing to begin early spring of next year and, although information regarding floor plans and pricing still hasn’t been released, we are interested to see if you’d take up residence in the Beekman Tower.
More about the tower and more construction shots after the break.
Moonman 82
Compared to its context, the monstrously tall tower will dominate the neighborhood which is predominantly filled with lower rise building. In the beginning of the construction phase, developer Forest City Ratner threatened to cut Gehry’s 76-story Beekman Tower in half due to cost, but in a press release on the matter, the developer concluded, “FCRC’s critical decision to build the full skyscraper was due to a combination of factors, including a reduction in the cost of construction materials and interior build-out and finishes. In addition, a successful collaboration with the Building and Construction Trades Council and the Building Employers Trade Association resulted in a beneficial Beekman Project Labor Agreement. Completing the Beekman tower will keep hundreds of workers employed at a time when construction in New York has slowed dramatically.”
Rocco S Cetera
One of the biggest results of the “reduction in the cost of construction materials” is that the 4th side of the tower will not include the wavy steel facade. When the flattened side was only a few stories tall, it seemed to be tolerable, but as construction continues and the flat side creeps up the full height of the tower, it takes away from the total effect of the building. The non-uniformity makes the skin appear artificial, and clearly denotes a “back” and “front” of the tower.
via Curbed
We are eagerly awaiting the project’s completion to experience the full effect of the tower’s skin and presence in lower Manhattan. We’ll keep you posted on the progress of the tower.
Moonman 82
Rocco S Cetera
Source: Curbed
Images: Rocco S. Cetera on Flickr and Moonman 82 on Flickr
Would like to say more but… ahahahahahah !
Didn’t expect it to be that big. Totally out of NY scale, see the woolworth next to it.
you are so right. totally out of scale. there are not big buildings in NY……ahhhhh!!!!
So It’s facade uselessly undulates (except where it needs to be made cheaply), and it’s abhorrently large in it’s residential context.
Have I missed something here, or is this project not very special?
looks cool from far but the scale is a bit odd..
not funny
I disagree with everyone’s complaint of scale. Big buildings do not, and arguable should not be surrounded only by tall buildings. I am no fan of Gehry and reluctant to jump to his defense, but in this case I believe a tall tower amongst smaller buildings creates variation, rhythm, and can work as a point of orientation to pedestrians.
I was a Gehry fan, but not anymore…
In Progress: Beekman Tower / Frank Gehry: Rocco S Cetera
As Frank Gehry’s Beekman Tower rises in Lower Manhattan, … http://bit.ly/aJ8ezo
Review w/ const pics. RT @fotofacade: In Progress: Beekman Tower in Lower Manhattan/ Frank Gehry: Rocco S Cetera. http://bit.ly/aJ8ezo
perfect example of ghery’s ragged out “style.” pointlessly expensive and blindly selfish. the recipe for architecture stardom
In Progress: Beekman Tower / Frank Gehry. http://bit.ly/bCkJyz
RT @nicholaspatten In Progress: Beekman Tower / Frank Gehry. http://bit.ly/bCkJyz
This building will be more interesting in about 40 years, but not because of the by-then outdated undulating style. Rather, the flat side will be a testament to the crash of ’08 and the economic havoc wrought on the built environment. The Washington Monument in DC tells a similar tale of war and national resources.
that building won’t be around 40 years from now…I give it 20 years max
in spite of what everyone else thinks, I think it’s quite nice. A nice departure from his usual. Reminds me of the aqua tower in some instances. However, it is out of scale with the context. Then again, maybe it was meant to be more iconic rather than blend in. But anyway, I don’t hate it. People hate on gehry because somehow that became the “cool” thing to do.
you nay sayers are ridiculous,
this building is fabulous. its gehry doing what he does best in a new format, high rise.
nobody else can do this.
additionally a few points in its favor: the facade has scale on multiple levels. it works as monument and as a building that has intimate scale. it plays with light in interesting ways. its well built. it pushes the technological envelope.
show me other new york buildings that come within a mile of these accomplishments.
I was a Gehry fan and still I am, but this seems to be not good right now.
What’s up with you guys? I’m not a Gehry fan either, but it’s so easy for you to belittle his work in terms of cost, style, etc. And this irrational fear of scale? Please, this is what happens when cities grow.
In the end, Gehry is adding value in the form of real estate value. If somebody is willing to pay for it, then there’s a demand for extraordinary architecture. Besides, Gehry’s office has proven itself as one that can deliver complex architecture within budget, like Bilbao’s Guggenheim.
Personally, I think this building is very beautiful and I’d rather him be doing it than any other Joe Schmuck Architect. It’s very prudent of him to keep it restrained while giving it a hallmark of differentiation from many other, frankly, mediocre New York Bleahchitecture.
I am very sorry for anyone who think this is architecture. this is fake. the reason why this is on archdaily, is just the label “gehry”. If editors of AD consider this an architecture, OK, then post any dubai/shenzen/abu dhabi glamour fake architecture. Otherwise, this is just a spam. I go here to look for some nice buildings and I am not willing to scroll over dozens of pseudo-architectures.
this building is just a money maker. for gehry and for the developer. tehy wanted gehry and he did not want to spend more than 1 hour on in. so someone in his office designed a various generic high rise, he took the model, did something during the lunch break and the “architecture” was born
I am no fan of gehry, because I am no fan of this superstarish meaningless formalism. But I agree he was really important and influential. But this building is not important and definetly not architecture. unless someone thinks architecture is a random building made by an (famous) architect.
Sorry JNK… but this is architecture, maybe not your cup of tea, it is certainly not mine. But this IS part of popular architectural vocabulary right now. What is fake is everyone bashing Gehry as they work on paper projects. This is being built, people are going to dwell within it, and it will affect the lives of many people in NYC… for better or worse. You have not even seen a floor plan and you know this is fake and generic? Besides, look at the floorplates, at least they match the façade…. That’s better, and more “real”, than some of his old projects. Have fun reading the second half of “Thinking Architecture” and defending your masters.
intelligent argument of “JNK”.
well, this building very needs the Frank Gehry’s STYLE. it’s sad a bit, that in this project has so little “frank gehry”. Why? maybe the “JNK” comment explained many..
Frank Gehry is really grow old..
Earlier you could feel, see the Genius of Frank Gehry in this Architecture. But now, you can only see the imitation, copy of his (past) genius.
It’s really sad, but I still Respect this Architect for his architecture and influence.
The man is a giant and will be remembered for millenniums…. you folks will be remembered by your kids, if your lucky.
hitler would be remembered too. does that make him a great architect as well?
Homer Simpson has a computer just like you.
киев жил строй
wow- wobbly facade!!
how does he come up with this stuff?
doubt you could do any better
POMO’s back!
did it ever leave?
Woot! Go Gehry!
flat side makes me think of a dog poop hitting the ground and taking its shape. probably more indicative of me than it, but still, the slapping up of that straight facade really seems to underscore the silliness of the other 3 sides….
as for millenia… please.
Just like you Homer Simpson also has a computer.
I am not a Gehry fan; this does not help make me one..wow this is awful.
This building seems quite boring actually. Ozmoto you’re right, Gehry will be remembered but probably not for this one.
I really like the fact how the building reflects the light, especially on the second photo. It give the building a dynamic aspect compared to all the dull skyscrapers around it. On the other photos, the sky is cloudy and the building loses this effect, which is a pity.
Concerning the comments that said it’s oversized, that was the given program, and he had to stick with it. Especially that the building around it will eventually be replaced, and probably by higher skyscrapers. Don’t forget architecture is in 4 dimensions.
What I dislike is the non existing transition between the 3 different building stages, however how it’s done now makes sence with the curves. From far it looks great, from close it’s like a mimic of developable surfaces.
As the newest and biggest building in Dubai
This article is in error when it claims that the flat face of the building was a change made for economic reasons in 2008. The south side of the building was intentionally designed to be flat from the design development phases of the project, dating as far back as 2006. The south face of the building is the least visible and has the most likelihood of having another tall structure built directly adjacent to it (there is a parking lot to the south that has already had talk of a high-rise construction project going in). Was it a cost-cutting measure? Partially, yes. But it wasn’t in response to the country’s economic meltdown.
Well, it does have some charm to it, or maybe it’s just because I enjoy reflective facades. But…..
An easy target if America decides to attack itself again. Oo, what about attacking South Africa next? Hahaha! I think the ripples in the facade predicts its own demise.
Completely redundant. Can’t this old geezer just die already?
Plenty of new roosts for the pigeons.
1st of many large scale buildings to come. Penn Plaza and WTC 1 are the others.
Burn it down.
3:58 PM Jun 21st
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In Progress: Beekman Tower / Frank Gehry
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Hot – Beekman Tower / Frank Gehry : http://j.mp/94wpAP