15 Penn Plaza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 15 Penn Plaza
General information
Status	Proposed
Type	Mixed
Location	15 Penn Plaza (401 7th Avenue)
Height
Roof	1,201 ft (366 m)
Technical details
Floor area	2,050,000 sq ft (190,000 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	Pelli Clarke Pelli
Developer	Vornado Realty Trust
Structural engineer	Severud Associates

15 Penn Plaza, also known as the Vornado Tower, is a very tall building planned for New York City. It would be built in Midtown Manhattan, a busy part of the city. The tower would stand on Seventh Avenue, between 32nd and 33rd Streets. This spot is currently home to the Hotel Pennsylvania.

The company planning this building is called Vornado Realty Trust. The Hiller Group is the designer. Even though it would have 68 floors, it would be 1,216 feet (371 m) tall. This means it would be only 34 feet (10 m) shorter than the famous 102-story Empire State Building.

What the Building Would Be Like

This proposed building would have 68 floors. It is designed to be a "mixed-use" tower. This means it would have different types of spaces inside. The plans include 430 units and a huge 2,050,000 sq ft (190,000 m²) of floor space.

Height and Views

The planned height of 1,216 feet (371 m) is very close to the Empire State Building. The owners of the Empire State Building, Anthony and Peter L. Malkin, were worried. They asked for a special zone around their building. This zone would stop very tall buildings from blocking the views of the Empire State Building. They suggested that 15 Penn Plaza should be limited to 825 feet (251 m) tall.

Community Opinions

Local groups had different ideas about the project. Manhattan Community Board 5, a group of local citizens, voted strongly against the plan. However, the New York City Planning Commission approved it. This approval allowed the building to be much larger than usual. It was allowed to be 56% bigger than standard rules. This was because it would be near major transport hubs, which helps encourage new office spaces.

Some people thought the building would be bad for the city. Henry Stern, who used to be in charge of city parks, said it "could do irreparable harm." But others supported it. Daniel Biederman, from the 34th Street Partnership, and construction workers said it was a good idea. They felt that a building this big should be built near Penn Station, a major transport center.

Project Delays and Future

The plans for 15 Penn Plaza have changed over time.

Initial Pause

On March 4, 2013, Vornado Realty Trust announced a change. They said they would not build the tower at that time. Instead, they planned to spend money on the existing Hotel Pennsylvania. Their goal was to make it "a really profitable, really good hotel."

Project Restart

In August 2014, the project was brought back. Vornado said more companies were interested in renting office space. Because of this, the plans to renovate Hotel Pennsylvania were put on hold.

Uncertainty in 2015

By February 2015, the future of the project was still not fully clear. Steve Roth, the head of Vornado, said the Hotel Pennsylvania was "important, but not the main event." He explained that their main focus was improving their office buildings. He did not fully commit to what their final plan for the Hotel Pennsylvania would be.

See also

In Spanish: 15 Penn Plaza para niños