53W53 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids 53 West 53
53 West 53 condominium tower, looking west on August 9, 2019.
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Museum, Residential Condominiums
Location	53 West 53rd Street New York City, New York, United States
Coordinates	40°45′42″N 73°58′42″W / 40.761626°N 73.978394°W / 40.761626; -73.978394
Construction started	2015
Completed	2019
Height
Roof	1,050 ft (320 m)
Technical details
Floor count	77
Design and construction
Architect	Jean Nouvel
Developer	Hines, Pontiac Land Group, Goldman Sachs
Structural engineer	WSP Global
Main contractor	Lendlease Group

53 West 53 is a very tall skyscraper in New York City. It stands in Midtown Manhattan, right next to the famous Museum of Modern Art. People also call it the MoMA Expansion Tower or 53 West 53rd Street. This huge building is about 1,050 ft (320 m) (320 meters) tall.

Two companies, Pontiac Land Group and Hines, built it. The idea for the building started way back in 2006. But it took a while to get started because of disagreements over its design and finding enough money. Construction finally began in late 2014. The building was finished in 2019. As of 2019, 53 West 53 was one of the ten tallest buildings in New York City.

Building History
Building Design
- Cool Features
Images for kids
See also

Building History

Early Plans

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) owned the land where 53 West 53 now stands. After a big expansion in 2004, MoMA sold the land in 2007. A company called Hines bought it for $125 million. Hines also bought special "air rights" from nearby buildings like the University Club of New York and St. Thomas Church. Air rights let you build taller than usual.

Hines planned to build a skyscraper called Tower Verre. The first design, by Jean Nouvel, was supposed to be 1,250 feet (380 m) tall. This is the same height as the Empire State Building without its antenna. Many people thought this design was very exciting for New York City.

Design Changes

However, some people didn't like the design. They felt it wouldn't fit in with the buildings around it. Others worried it would make the area too crowded.

In 2009, the New York City Department of City Planning said the building could be built, but it had to be 200 feet (61 m) shorter. Many architecture experts were upset by this decision. But the shorter 1,050-foot (320 m) design was approved by the New York City Council later that year.

Construction Begins

It was hard to get money for the project for a few years. But in 2013, a company called Pontiac Land agreed to invest $200 million. They also got a large loan from several banks in Asia.

In 2014, MoMA sold more air rights, and the building became known as 53 West 53. Construction officially started in 2015. By 2016, the foundation was done, and the building started to rise. The very top of the building was put in place in late 2018. The whole building was finished in November 2019.

Building Design

53 West 53 is an 82-story building with 145 homes inside. Its total height is 1,050 ft (320 m). The homes in the building were designed by Thierry Despont. The outside of the building looks like it's made of many angled glass panels. It gets narrower at the top, ending in sharp, crystal-like points. As of 2019, it was the tenth-tallest building in New York City.

Cool Features

This building is used for different things. It has homes (condominiums), museum gallery space, and a private restaurant at the bottom. There are 145 homes, with one to five bedrooms each. The project also added about 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m²) of new gallery space for MoMA.

People who live in 53 West 53 get special perks at MoMA. These include:

Unlimited free entry to the museum.
Early peeks at new art shows.
Discounts at MoMA stores.
Access to movie screenings.

The building also has many cool things for residents, like:

A theater.
A 65-foot swimming pool.
A fitness center.
A library with a cozy fireplace.
A playroom for kids.
A room for wine tasting.
A tall lounge with amazing views of Central Park.

For an extra fee, residents can also get services like grocery stocking, housekeeping, and even dog walking!

Images for kids

The building is located between the Financial Times Building on the left and The Museum of Modern Art on the right.
Side view of building from 54th St, looking west with scaffolding visible, March 2019.
From 57th Street, May 2020

53W53 facts for kids

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