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REX starts sewing a pleated-glass facade onto a brutalist Manhattan tower

REX starts sewing a pleated-glass facade onto a brutalist Manhattan tower

Last year, AN explored REX’s strategy to revamp a brutalist, ziggurat-shaped tower on Manhattan‘s west side with a modern, pleated-glass facade. Since the Davis Brody Bond–designed structure was originally a warehouse, developer Brookfield Properties thought it made sense to give the building a glassy facelift before the tech companies moved in.

As AN reported:

REX’s new facade is a formal response to pragmatic challenges at the site. Originally built as a warehouse over the rail yard, the pyramid-shaped structure boasts 14-foot-tall ceilings, but day lighting was not a concern. New building codes dictating accessibility required ample headroom at the slanting walls. [REX Principal] Prince-Ramus said his system of floor-to-ceiling tapering glass pleats maximizes interior space while addressing energy efficiency issues. The curtain wall’s under-slung surfaces are self-shaded from the sun, reducing solar glare and heat gain while creating a more transparent, lively façade from street level.

Now, the $200 million project is taking shape. Construction watch blog Field Condition recently spotted REX’s curtain wall rising at the building, now known as 5 Manhattan West. The entire project is expected to be completed next year. Take a look at the gallery below, courtesy of Field Condition, and read our coverage about the project here.


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