Zeckendorf Towers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zeckendorf Towers |
|
|---|---|
Zeckendorf Towers in 2008
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Architectural style | Postmodern |
| Location | Union Square, Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | 40°44′04″N 73°59′22″W / 40.734550°N 73.98950°W |
| Completed | 1987 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 345 feet (105 m) |
| Roof | 292 feet (89 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 29 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Davis, Brody & Associates |
| Developer | William Zeckendorf, Jr. Abraham Hirschfeld Irwin Ackerman |
The Zeckendorf Towers is a group of four tall buildings in New York City. It is also known as One Irving Place or One Union Square East. This complex has 29 stories and stands about 345 feet (105 meters) tall. It is located on the east side of Union Square, Manhattan.
The buildings were finished in 1987. They were built where a department store called S. Klein used to be. The Zeckendorf Towers were designed by the architecture firm Davis, Brody & Associates. The complex is named after William Zeckendorf, a famous American real estate developer. It was a very important building project in New York City during the 1980s.
Building Design and Look
The Zeckendorf Towers are covered in red bricks. The windows are placed to make the buildings look taller. The fifth floor and the top floor of the lower office part have rounded windows.
Each of the 29-story towers has a pyramid-shaped screen on top. These screens light up at night. They create a cool contrast with the lit-up clock tower of the Con Ed Building across Irving Place.
Green Roof on the Towers
The Zeckendorf Towers has a large outdoor area on its seventh floor. This space is about 14,000 square feet (1,300 square meters). It used to be a simple rooftop with plants in pots.
In 2010, this roof was changed into the biggest residential green roof in New York. This project was part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to make New York City greener. The planted roof helps to soak up rainwater. This stops the water from running off and causing floods in the New York City Subway station below.
History of Zeckendorf Towers
The Zeckendorf Towers complex takes up a whole city block. It has 670 apartments. It was built just before Union Square Park became popular again in the 1990s. The towers helped the areas around Park Avenue South and the Flatiron District become trendy neighborhoods.
When it was first designed, the Zeckendorf Towers did not get much praise. Some people who wanted to protect old buildings pointed out the history of the S. Klein site. This site included the old Union Square Hotel, which was designed by James Renwick Jr.. He also designed famous buildings like St. Patrick's Cathedral.
To build the Zeckendorf Towers, the city had to change the rules for the land. A group called the Union Square Coalition strongly opposed this. They were worried about how new buildings would affect their homes. To get approval, the original plan for one very tall tower was changed. The building was made smaller to fit better with the neighborhood.
As part of the deal, escalators were built for the subway station. This was a public benefit for allowing the building to be constructed. The Zeckendorf Towers apartment owners' group is responsible for keeping these escalators working.
See also
In Spanish: Zeckendorf Towers para niños
