The Copper
View from the East River
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeResidential
Location626 First Avenue
Kips Bay
Completed2017[1]
ManagementJDS Development
Largo Investments
Height
Roof540 feet (160 m)
(West tower)
470 feet (140 m)
(East tower)
Technical details
Floor count48
Floor area824,000 square feet (76,600 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)SHoP Architects
DeveloperJDS Development Group
Main contractorJDS Construction Group / Facade by The Elicc Group
Other information
Number of units761

The Copper (formerly known as American Copper Buildings and 626 First Avenue) are a pair of luxury residential skyscrapers in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The buildings were developed by JDS Development and were designed by SHoP Architects[2] with interiors by SHoP and K&Co.[3] The buildings are one of several major collaborations between JDS and SHoP; others include 111 West 57th Street, also in Manhattan,[4] and The Brooklyn Tower in Brooklyn.[5]

History

The site the two towers occupy was originally a lot that hosted the Consolidated Edison Kips Bay Generating Station.[6] The lot was one of three parcels purchased by Sheldon Solow (along with the former Consolidated Edison Waterside power plant on the east side of First Avenue from 38th to 41st streets) and was planned to be redeveloped as part of a seven-tower, $4 billion complex designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The SOM plan would also have included a park and a public school, as well as an adjacent public space designed by American architect Richard Meier.[7]

Solow sold the southwest corner of the lot in 2010 to the New York City School Construction Authority for $33.25 million, which was used to build P.S. 281 - The River School.[8] He later sold the remaining plot on 35th Street to JDS and Largo in 2013 for $172 million. JDS and Largo secured a loan from Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors to purchase the land.[1] Following a ULURP, Solow changed his plans to a twin-tower structure, which JDS followed per the zoning, although with a new architect. JDS executives were attracted to the lot in part due to the waterfront location and proximity to the United Nations and Langone Medical Center.[9]

Construction began on the site in mid-2014, and the copper cladding was first applied in mid-2015.[10] The west and east towers topped out in late 2015 and early 2016, respectively, and installation of the skybridge between the two towers began in January 2016.[11][12] The official name of the towers - The American Copper Buildings - was released in April 2016 as the property launched initial leasing efforts.[13] In December 2016, the project received a $500 million senior mortgage from American International Group along with a $160 million mezzanine loan from Apollo Global Management and SL Green Realty.[14]

The two separate structures opened in phases for renters, with American Copper West opening in April 2017 and American Copper East in late 2018.[15] A cafe called Hole in the Wall opened in the base of the east tower in June 2019.[16]

Sale

JDS and Baupost entered into contract to sell the property to investors Black Spruce Management and Orbach Affordable Housing Solutions in December 2021.[17] The sale price was approximately $850 million.[17] The high price has been interpreted as indicative of broader investor confidence in the recovery of New York City despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[18] JPMorgan provided $675 million in financing to Black Spruce and Orbach.[19]

Design and construction

Under construction, 2016

The north and south elevations of the building's facade are clad in copper, while the east and west elevations are floor to ceiling glass. The two towers are designed such that they appear to "dance" with each other.[1] They are connected by a bridge approximately 300 feet from the ground, three levels in height.[20] The west tower is 540 feet in height, and the east tower is 470 feet tall.[2]

Facade

The copper exterior was left as a live material to encourage oxidation, and the structures will eventually change color entirely, from a bright, shiny material, into a darker brown, and finally green.[21] The architect used the copper facade for texture and added variation by staggering the panels in patterns that emanate from the skybridge.[21] The facade was installed by the Elicc Group.

Skybridge

View from below, skybridge of The American Copper Buildings, 2018
View from below, skybridge of The American Copper Buildings, 2018

The two towers are connected by a three-story skybridge on floors 27, 28, and 29, which includes a portion of the project's 60,000 square feet of amenities such as a 75-foot lap pool, and lounge for residents. The skybridge also includes a mechanical floor used by both towers for efficiency, creating space for the east tower's roof deck pool and lounge.[22] Atop the skybridge are private outdoor terraces attached to adjacent apartments.[23] According to the developers, it is the first such bridge constructed in Manhattan in eighty years.[24]

The bridge structure is composed of steel trusses that weigh up to 421,000 pounds.[25] Measuring 100 feet long, the skybridge is clad in glass that contains an aluminum mesh interlayer that reduces solar gain and gives the appearance from the exterior as an opaque material.[21]

The skybridge was furnished by design firm K&Co.[25]

Resilience

While the buildings’ parcel was for sale during Hurricane Sandy, rainfall turned an onsite pit into a "small lake".[26] The buildings were therefore developed with precautions against floods and extreme weather caused by climate change. In the event of power loss caused by a storm, there are five emergency generators to power the buildings’ eight passenger and two freight elevators and to provide power to tenants’ refrigerators and a single outlet in each apartment for an indefinite period of time.[26]

Architectural choices were also informed by potential floods. Lobby walls utilize stone instead of wood, and the buildings' copper covering begins approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) above the ground, preventing potential damage from high waters.[26]

Usage

The buildings are residential, and include 761 rental units.[27] Twenty percent of the units in the two towers are designated affordable, with the remaining eighty percent available at market.

The buildings are split between 725,000 square feet (67,400 m2) of residential space, 94,700 square feet (8,800 m2) of amenities and facilities for residents, and a small 4,100-square-foot (380 m2) retail complex on the ground floor.[11] Each tower includes its own lobby with 25-foot ceilings, custom lighting, and wood paneling. Apartments range from studios to three bedrooms. Finishes include oak flooring, light fixtures designed by the architect, Miele appliances, marble countertops and backsplashes in kitchens, and “crocodile” marble accent shower walls.[28]

Amenities

The bridge connecting the development's two towers includes a pool, whirlpool, and a lounge for residents. The building includes a gym, a landscaped plaza, and other amenities.[29] An outdoor pool and lounge are on the top of the east tower, with the top of the west tower reserved for mechanical space.[30]

Reception and awards

The project has been praised by architecture critics for moving away from all glass design to embrace texture, depth, and character.[22]

  • Best Tall Building – Americas, 2018, Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Tall Buildings Awards.[31]
  • ASLA-NY 2019 Awards for the First Avenue Water Plaza, category General Landscape Architecture Design, to SCAPE Landscape Architecture.[32]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stulberg, Ariel (December 4, 2015). "Developers swapping penthouses for top floor amenities". The Real Deal. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Hylton, Ondel (July 13, 2015). "New Video Reveals How SHoP's 626 First Avenue Will Dance into Midtown's East River Skyline". 6sqft. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Team". American Copper Buildings. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  4. ↑ "111 West 57th Street". JDS Development Group. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  5. ↑ Fedak, Nikolai (November 9, 2015). "340 Flatbush Ave Ext. Revealed, Brooklyn's First Supertall Skyscraper". New York YIMBY. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ Oser, Alan S. (March 11, 1983). "Housing Construction Near East River". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (August 19, 2013). "Prime Lot, Empty for Years (Yes, This Is Manhattan)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  8. ↑ Higgins, Michelle (November 4, 2016). "A Richard Meier Building. In Black". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  9. ↑ Chaffin, Joshua (April 17, 2020). "The highs and lows of a New York skyscraper king". The Financial Times. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Reid (July 15, 2015). "Cladding Appears At 626 First Avenue, Twin-Towered Development Rising in Murray Hill". New York YIMBY. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Baird-Remba, Rebecca (December 2, 2015). "JDS' Apartment Towers Rise at 626 First Avenue". New York YIMBY. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Mitanis, Marcus (January 11, 2016). "Sky Bridge Installation Begins at SHoP's 626 First Avenue". Skyrise Cities. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. ↑ Plitt, Amy (April 20, 2016). "SHoP's Bendy Kips Bay Rentals Get a New Name, Interior Renders". Curbed NY. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  14. ↑ Morris, Keiko (December 22, 2016). "Developers of American Copper Buildings Secure $660 Million in Financing". The Wall Street Journal.
  15. ↑ Paletta, Anthony (January 1, 2018). "The American Copper Buildings: NYC's performance art project". The Real Deal. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ Dai, Serena (June 17, 2019). "A Sleek New Australian Cafe Opens in a Sleepy Part of Murray Hill". Eater NY. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  17. 1 2 Wong, Natalie (December 8, 2021). "NYC's American Copper Buildings to Sell for $850 Million". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  18. ↑ Velsey, Kim (December 10, 2021). "If This Deal Is Any Guide, New York Rents Aren't Going to Calm Down Anytime Soon". Curbed NY. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  19. ↑ Dilakian, Steven (March 4, 2022). "Black Spruce Scored $675M for American Copper Buildings Buy". The Real Deal. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ Lubell, Sam (February 11, 2016). "Feature> In and Outdoors: Increasing urban populations demand innovative green spaces". The Architect's Paper. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 Ferello, Jamie (September 14, 2018). "SHoP's American Copper Buildings wear a skin designed to age gracefully". The Architect’s Newspaper. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  22. 1 2 Davidson, Justin (November 6, 2019). "Two New Buildings Break Free of the Glass Straitjacket". Intelligencer. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  23. ↑ Schulz, Dana (August 19, 2016). "Tour the American Copper Buildings' skybridge and roof, first look at its floating lap pool". 6sqft. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  24. ↑ Bindelglass, Evan (April 21, 2016). "JDS and SHoP Show Off Skybridge at American Copper Buildings, 626 First Avenue". New York YIMBY. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  25. 1 2 Warerkar, Tanay (April 25, 2016). "Touring the Massive Skybridge Connecting SHoP's American Copper Buildings". Curbed NY. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  26. 1 2 3 Dunlap, David W. (January 26, 2017). "Building to the Sky, With a Plan for Rising Waters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  27. ↑ Fishbein, Rebecca (September 17, 2015). "Introducing New York City's Very Own Leaning Tower Of Pisa". The Gothamist. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  28. ↑ Stevens, Philip (April 14, 2017). "SHoP architects completes conjoined american copper buildings in new york". designboom. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  29. ↑ Graver, David (February 2, 2018). "Exploring American Copper Buildings' Three-Story Skybridge". Cool Hunting. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  30. ↑ McConnon, Aili (December 3, 2015). "A Penthouse for Everyone: Developers Reserve Top Floors for Shared Amenities". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  31. ↑ Walsh, Niall Patrick (June 4, 2018). "CTBUH Reveals Best Tall Building Worldwide and Winners of 2018 Tall Building Awards". ArchDaily. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  32. ↑ Hilburg, Jonathan (March 18, 2019). "ASLA-NY announces its 2019 Design Award winners". The Architect’s Newspaper. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
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