111 West 57th Street in New York – Manhattan’s Latest Landmark

111 West 57th Street in New York City is one of the tallest buildings in the city, and it towers high above all but two other buildings in the city that is so famous for its tall buildings. In this article, we will examine the history, interior and exterior architecture, height, and architects of the 57th Street Tower to better understand this massive structure in one of the most famous cities in the world. Keep reading to learn more about 111 West 57th Street in New York City!

A Look at 111 West 57th Street in New York

Many of the tallest skyscrapers in the world tend to either be mixed-use structures or office space, and it isn’t all that often that the largest of all skyscrapers is also only used for residential space, but that is the case with 111 West 57th Street in New York City. This building stands at a gargantuan height of 435 m (or 1,428 ft), and this also makes it one of the tallest buildings in New York City, a city already known for its immensely tall structures. In fact, the immense height of 111 West 57th Street means that this skyscraper is actually taller than some buildings that were known for their height in the city, such as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

111 West 57th Street; Percival Kestreltail, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The building itself, which is also known as Steinway Tower, contains many luxury condominiums throughout its design. There are 14 in the lower section of the building, which is known as Steinway Hall, while the remainder of them are located in the tower itself. Furthermore, one of the more interesting additions to the building is that there is actually a preserved structure at the base of the skyscraper. This base structure is the Steinway & Sons store that once carried the name that the new building holds. This is a fantastic piece of preservation of historically significant structures and a great thing to see, but what about the rest of the history of this incredibly tall structure?

The History of 111 West 57th Street in New York

111 West 57th Street in New York City is an interesting structure because of the piece of preservation at its base that has already been briefly mentioned. The base of the structure is made up of Steinway Hall, which was built in 1925 by the famed piano makers, Steinway & Sons. This large hall was used as far more than just a store, but also as an office building and a recital hall. This building eventually became declared a New York City Landmark in 2001, and so the demolition of the site was likely out of the question when it came to designing something new that would tower high above the original hall.

It eventually came time for Steinway & Sons to move out of that famous location and into a new one.

They would make that move in 2016, and the new location that they set up shop was at 1133 Avenue of the Americas, and it was far more sophisticated than the historic location they had used before. It was at this same time that the new Steinway Tower started its construction, so let’s look at that a little more closely. The history of the Steinway Tower is a far shorter one as it was only completed in 2021 and so there is very little to actually say about it. Construction on the tower above the old Steinway Hall started in 2015 before Steinway & Sons had left the building at all, and it was developed by JDS Development Group as well as the Property Markets Group.

The 111 West 57th Street seen in December 2019 from Columbus Circle; Jim.henderson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

These two groups brought SHoP Architects in to design the structure that could incorporate the famous rotunda and façade of the Steinway Hall while allowing room for the 57th Street Tower to bloom instead. The new tower at 111 West 57th Street in New York City was ultimately completed in 2021 as the third-tallest building in the city and one of the most distinctive sights in the New York City skyline. Furthermore, this incredible height also makes it one of the tallest in the United States and the world at large.

The Exterior Architecture of 111 West 57th Street in New York

111 West 57th Street in New York City is a skyscraper, and as such, it has the kind of exterior architecture that one may expect, except for a few specific aspects that differentiate it from your average skyscraper. Before we get to those elements of the design, the façade is fairly typical and is comprised of a glass façade, but it also includes the use of terracotta piers. The Steinway Hall portion of the building, on the other hand, which makes up the first 16 floors of the building, is made up of an L-shaped structure with a setback on the 9th and 12th floors of the building.

The original roof is pyramidal in shape with a copper topping, and it is one of the most notable aspects of the architectural design of the building.

That original hall building was also notable for making use of a Renaissance Revival style that turned it into one of the more interesting structures in the city. It is still retained as part of the overall structure and serves as a fascinating base for the tower that then shoots out of it high above practically every other structure in the entire city.

The Interior Architecture of 111 West 57th Street in New York

The interior of 111 West 57th Street in New York City was not designed by SHoP Architects and was instead given to Studio Sofield. The original portion of the structure, which exists within the Steinway Hall part of the building as a whole, retains much of its initial interior design though (and that initial interior was planned by Walter L. Hopkins).

The original entrances make use of pink granite floors and coffered domed ceilings, and the eastern portion includes a vaulted ceiling. One of the most notable elements is the Steinway Hall’s rotunda, which includes a relatively high domed ceiling of 11 m (or 35 ft) in height. There are also chandeliers and arches that adorn the interior to create the image of luxuriousness. The Steinway Tower portion of the structure does feel like a move into a different period of time, while the modern tower is far more contemporary in its exterior and interior design as it rises high above the city.

The Height of 111 West 57th Street in New York

The 57th Street Tower is particularly notable because of its incredible height. The building includes a whopping 84 floors in its design, and it rises to a height of 435 m (or 1,428 ft). All of that height is used for the purpose of residential apartments and there are 60 of these within the building.

If that number seems a little low for a building of this extreme height, it’s because those condominiums are actually luxury designs and are therefore significantly larger than the average apartment.

However, one of the interesting things about the design of 111 West 57th Street in New York City is that it is also one of the thinnest buildings in the region. This means that despite its incredible height, it also does not contain as much space as one might expect of a structure of this size. The Steinway Tower is immensely tall, but also a thin thing, and this makes it a particularly interesting and unique silhouette against the New York City skyline.

The Architects of 111 West 57th Street in New York

The architects of the 57th Street Tower is a contemporary firm that operates around the world. It is known as SHoP Architects, and it is situated in New York City. However, the firm itself has designed structures around the world and of varying types, such as schools, residential buildings, and cultural institutions. The name of the building actually comes from the surnames of the founders of the firm: Sharples, Holden, and Pasquarelli. The founders included three members of the Sharples family and one from the Holden and Pasquarelli families.

They worked together to found the company in 1996 and by the present day, they maintain a staff of over 180 and have work that is exhibited in museums, with a permanent collection of their work in the Museum of Modern Art.

Entrance to Steinway Hall at 111 West 57th Street, seen in 2008 prior to the residential tower’s development; Jazz Guy from New Jersey, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Some of the buildings that SHoP Architects has designed, other than 111 West 57th Street in New York City, include the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Museum of Sex in New York City, and the expansion of the Google headquarters in Silicon Valley. This architectural firm has buildings around the world, and it has become one of the biggest in the game since its founding.

111 West 57th Street in New York City is one of the tallest buildings in the city, and it was only completed in 2021. The tallest buildings of the past are slowly being whittled away in favor of the gargantuan structures of the future. In this article, we looked at this particular massive structure to discuss its history, interior and exterior architecture, height, and the architects behind it. Hopefully, you have learned a good deal about 111 West 57th Street in New York City, although, as a young structure, there is not all that much to say just yet. The history of the 57th Street Tower will continue, and perhaps more will emerge as time carries ever on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is 111 West 57th Street in New York?

111 West 57th Street in New York City is a supertall skyscraper. This particular structure is specifically located in Midtown Manhattan and is therefore one of the central locations in New York City. The building was constructed atop an existing building, the Steinway Hall, but the original structure has been preserved beneath the larger tower that now stands over it. The building is also purely residential in nature, and it includes several dozen luxury condominiums.

How Tall Is 111 West 57th Street in New York?

111 West 57th Street in New York City is one of the tallest buildings in the world, and it is also the third-tallest building in New York City and only the fourth-tallest building in the country. The building stands at a height of 435 m (or 1,428 ft). Aside from being one of the tallest buildings in the city and country, it is also one of the thinnest buildings in the world, which is a particularly interesting aspect of the design.

What Is the Architectural Style of 111 West 57th Street in New York?

111 West 57th Street in New York City is made up of several different styles, and because the Steinway Hall is situated in the lower levels of the building, it has a different style to the tower. The Steinway Hall section is made up of a Renaissance Revival style, and it is constructed out of brick, terracotta, and limestone. The tower, on the other hand, is more contemporary and is made up of a glass façade with terracotta piers.

Who Is the Architect of 111 West 57th Street in New York?

There is no singular architect behind 111 West 57th Street in New York City. Instead, the building was designed by SHoP Architects, which is one of the world’s foremost architectural firms. However, the original Steinway Hall was designed in the early 20th century by Warren and Wetmore Associates.

What Building Was Situated at 111 West 57th Street Before the Current Building?

The original structure that was located at 111 West 57th Street in New York City was the Steinway Hall. This building was a shop, recital hall, and office building for Steinway & Sons, which is a piano manufacturer. The original occupants of the building have since moved to a new office elsewhere in New York City, and this left the 57th Street Tower to be developed and occupied as a residential skyscraper.

Justin van Huyssteen( Writer, Academic, Educator )

Justin van Huyssteen is a writer, academic, and educator from Cape Town, South Africa. He holds a master’s degree in Theory of Literature. His primary focus in this field is the analysis of artistic objects through a number of theoretical lenses. His predominant theoretical areas of interest include narratology and critical theory in general, with a particular focus on animal studies. Other than academia, he is a novelist, game reviewer, and freelance writer. Justin’s preferred architectural movements include the more modern and postmodern types of architecture, such as Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Brutalist, and Futurist varieties like sustainable architecture. Justin is working for artfilemagazine as an author and content writer since 2022. He is responsible for all blog posts about architecture.

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