NEW YORK | 432 Park Avenue (Drake Hotel dev.) | (1,396) FT / 432 M | 89 FLOORS

[lakegz]

Reminds me of Goya's "Colossus" painting.

[NYC GUY]

Saw this tower while I was crossing the Outerbridge and this thing really makes it's presense known. This is behind the ESB from where I was looking and it looked almost as tall as the ESB and it's not even done yet! Can't wait to see this when it's topped out.

[weidncol]

Yep, it's definitely one of the three kings of the skyline, being One WTC, ESB and 432 PA.

[jd3189]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

For a skinny tower, it can look pretty thick in views far away.

[mmikeyphilly]

Originally Posted by jd3189

For a skinny tower, it can look pretty thick in views far away.

Yes it does. I agree. I've seen many shots like that. Amazing to think that in a few years it will look shorter when the other supertalls come aboard!

[ILNY]

From yesterday.






It's hard to tell but looks like protective coating has been removed from some windows.

[NYguy]

A week ago today...(July 20, 2014)


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[simms3_redux]

I just saw this tower for the first time in a while and it's very very impressive in person. And TALL. Perfect boring sterile neighborhood for the super rich part time residents that will call it home, though. IMO One57 is so much better located, and even that area is a little eh.

[Leo the Dog]

I like the height and the fast pace of vertical construction, but this building reminds me of a brutalist 1970s style structure.

Not enough glass...just my oppinion.

[JustSomeGuyWho]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

I like the height and the fast pace of vertical construction, but this building reminds me of a brutalist 1970s style structure.

Not enough glass...just my oppinion.

Wow, don't see that at all. In fact, I think its elegance is in stark contrast to brutalist architecture.

[JayPro]

@LeotheDog;

But that's just it....
It shouldn't have to be. I mean it really shouldn't.
The West Side beyond the fringes of Hudson Yards, and the Titans of 57th will be slopping over with glass.
The sheer concrete visage makes this towert all the more stunning; and I welcome that departure from IMO a stultifying norm.
Brutalism IMO doesn't apply here. PanAm/MetLife is so dubbed only because of its size. IMO, that particular quality defines the movement.
But that's another discussion whither to wander farther afield.

[jayden]

This is just absolutely dominating coming in from Astoria.

[JayPro]

Wait till 200CPS, Steinway (111 W57th) and Nordstrom join the lineup.
The westbound LIE Tunnel approach with these, plus 1 Vandy, Tower Verre and 425P??....And HY etc. to the left of the panorama???

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

I just saw this tower for the first time in a while and it's very very impressive in person. And TALL. Perfect boring sterile neighborhood for the super rich part time residents that will call it home, though. IMO One57 is so much better located, and even that area is a little eh.

That's just is, this tower is not really that. There are more domestic buyers for this particular tower, than something like One57. Park Avenue has long been a most desired address for the wealthy. What you see happening along the rest of 57th is something entirely new, and a reason you see a lot more foreign buyers there, though nearby Time Warner and 15 CPW aren't really that, they're not on the stretch of 57th where the foreign investments are. Though 57th will only get better with time, for those who will actually spend more time in the buildings, the Park Avenue towers are more desired. You'll see the same thing with 520 Park Avenue. The Sony building is also being converted into luxury residential. It's a very desirable area.

But we should also keep in mind that the perceptions of these towers as homes for "billionaires only" with $100 million dollar condos isn't accurate. Sure, it makes the news when penthouse units go for 90 to 100 million or so, but there is the entire rest of these buildings that go for much less. Those units don't make the news, nor characterize the towers, but they account for a much greater percentage of the buildings as far as overall number of units go.

[Perklol]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

I like the height and the fast pace of vertical construction, but this building reminds me of a brutalist 1970s style structure.

Not enough glass...just my oppinion.

No way. 432 Park is far sleeker than the monstrosities like the General Motors building or those nondescript office buildings on 6th Avenue between 44-49 streets.

[JustSomeGuyWho]

Originally Posted by NYguy

That's just is, this tower is not really that. There are more domestic buyers for this particular tower, than something like One57. Park Avenue has long been a most desired address for the wealthy. What you see happening along the rest of 57th is something entirely new, and a reason you see a lot more foreign buyers there, though nearby Time Warner and 15 CPW aren't really that, they're not on the stretch of 57th where the foreign investments are. Though 57th will only get better with time, for those who will actually spend more time in the buildings, the Park Avenue towers are more desired. You'll see the same thing with 520 Park Avenue. The Sony building is also being converted into luxury residential. It's a very desirable area.

But we should also keep in mind that the perceptions of these towers as homes for "billionaires only" with $100 million dollar condos isn't accurate. Sure, it makes the news when penthouse units go for 90 to 100 million or so, but there is the entire rest of these buildings that go for much less. Those units don't make the news, nor characterize the towers, but they account for a much greater percentage of the buildings as far as overall number of units go.

Right, but these are still going to the very wealthy. The owner of my company is moving to NYC and I've heard he's looking at this building among others. He is not a billionaire but he is still pretty darn wealthy. He lives a life with which I am not familiar

[JustSomeGuyWho]

Originally Posted by Eveningsong

No way. 432 Park is far sleeker than the monstrosities like the General Motors building or those nondescript office buildings on 6th Avenue between 44-49 streets.

Right. While it is true that Brutalist buildings typically do not have much glass, certainly the amount of glass is not the only defining characteristic of that architecture. This building is anything but brutalist. Yes, it is really big ... ok. It is slender, elegant, simple and as you said, sleek. Speaking of Brutalist buildings from the 70's ... this was a favorite style of government buildings ... does this look anything like a government building?

[Lecom]

An update from various locations around East Midtown and from Central Park, during daytime and night.

July 26, 2014

• Video Link

[JayPro]

Originally Posted by Eveningsong

...far sleeker than the monstrosities like the General Motors building...

The GE/RCA/ComCast/NBC Peacock Tower is one of the stunning graces of any architectural highrise period in the world.
And as for sleekness or lack thereof as you suggest, I suggest you look at that tower's east/west profile...

[R@ptor]

Originally Posted by NYguy

But we should also keep in mind that the perceptions of these towers as homes for "billionaires only" with $100 million dollar condos isn't accurate. Sure, it makes the news when penthouse units go for 90 to 100 million or so, but there is the entire rest of these buildings that go for much less. Those units don't make the news, nor characterize the towers, but they account for a much greater percentage of the buildings as far as overall number of units go.

The cheapest apartment in this tower costs $1.6 million and is just 350 square foot. That's hardly something the average income earner can afford.