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Perkins Eastman reveals renderings for Turkish Consulate building across from the UN

Perkins Eastman reveals renderings for Turkish Consulate building across from the UN

Today Perkins Eastman revealed new renderings for the Turkevi Center, a 32-story mission, consulate, and residential building for the Republic of Turkey to be built on Manhattan’s East Side.

The 200,000-square-foot building occupies a prominent spot across the street from the United Nations, at First Avenue and East 46th Street.

The Center is intended to contrast with its boxy neighbors: a curvy facade takes its cues from the Turkish crescent, and loggias across the upper floors of the south and east faces are layered on a podium shrouded in perforated metal paneling. On the roof, there will be a public terrace with panoramic views of the East River and downtown.

The program contains standard consulate functions like a passport and visa office; conference rooms; and lounges, as well as culturally specific spaces, like a prayer room for devout diplomats. Perkins Eastman principals Jonathan M. Stark, Michael K. Lew AIA, design principal Gilles Le Gorrec, and senior associate Tadeusz (T) Rajwer are spearheading the project.

Plans for a new consulate have been in the works since 2012. When AN reported on the Center in November 2015, there was some controversy over who was designing the project, and, although public records named Perkins Eastman as the architect of record, the firm declined to elaborate on the design and construction timeline.

It’s now confirmed that construction is set to begin this year, pending the demolition of the Turkish House building that currently occupies the site. Perkins Eastman expects the tower to be complete by 2018.

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