432 Park Avenue Skyscraper With The Most Expensive Residences
The tallest residential skyscraper in Manhattan is 432 Park Avenue. Located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, the building is often referred to as the “techno palace.” The skyscraper is the fifth-tallest building in Manhattan and the third tallest residential building in the world.
“It’s quite astonishing to see a structure so pure,” said Hezi Mena, senior vice president of building structures at WSP in New York. “We tried to simplify the structure as much as possible so as not to conflict with the architect’s vision.”
The Bare Essentials: 432 Park Avenue
Situated on Billionaires’ Row, 432 Park Avenue is 1,396 feet tall. Rafael Viñoly designed the tower and CIM Group and Harry B. Macklowe developed it. Vinoly said the building’s design was inspired by a trash can. The pencil tower has a height-to-width ratio of 15:1.
Two extra-strength concrete tubes provide stability and support for the building. The interior tube functions as the building’s core, measuring almost 30 feet by 30 feet, and serves as the structure’s backbone.
The outer tube functions as the perimeter beam and column frame. On every 12th floor, the tubes are joined by stiffening beams. The beams are accommodated in the double-height plant rooms, to avoid encroaching on the units. WSP also removed the interior columns, allowing residents flexibility with space configuration.
The needle tower has 84 stories with 84 residential units and a mezzanine.
Supertall Structure
Pencil towers like 432 Park Avenue require advanced engineering and technology. First, the building’s foundation uses 60 rock anchors that extend 60 to 70 feet into the bedrock for stability. And windbreaks where built into the structure every 12 stories with 12 openings per face.
The top floors have thicker slabs to add weight and mitigate strong winds. To prevent swaying, architects added special dampers at the top and on the mechanical floors.
A grid framework was used for the building’s exterior and made with white Portland cement. Designer Viñoly said the lattice-like exterior was inspired by a 1905 trash can design.
432 Park Avenue vs. 111 West 57th
Both 432 Park Avenue and 111 West 57th Street are super skinny residential skyscrapers. To be classified as a pencil tower, the building must have a height-to-width ratio of 7:1. The building at 432 Park Avenue has an aspect ratio of 15:1.
111 West 57th Street pushes the size envelope. With a width of 58 feet, it has a height-to-width ratio of 24:1. Meanwhile, 432 Park Avenue has a ratio of 15:1.
Ultra-Luxurious Units
Condo owners at 432 Park Avenue include Saudi retail magnate Fawaz Alhokair, a member of the Jose Cuervo Tequila family, and former power couple Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.
With eye-watering prices, one would only expect unparalleled luxury. The units include 15’6 inch tall ceilings.
At the bottom end, studio units offer 351 square feet of space. At the higher end, penthouses are available at 8,255 square feet. Medium-sized units go for around 4,000 square feet and include three bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
432 Park Avenue Penthouse
The 8,255-square-foot 432 Park Avenue penthouse offers a 360-degree view that many have said is “cinematic.” The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom residence has a 1,100-square-foot great room, an oversized kitchen, and a media room.
Office space for a personal assistant and private office in the master suite are included. And there’s a library, fireplace, and breakfast nook overlooking Central Park. Single-pane, 10-foot square glass windows surround the penthouse.
Fawaz Alhokair, a Saudi retail magnate, purchased the penthouse in 2016 for $87.7 million. In 2022, he put it on the market for $169 million, making it the most expensive condo in New York City.
State-Of-The-Art Amenities
Each unit at 432 Park Avenue has advanced amenities. Featuring golf training facilities, private dining rooms, and screening rooms. There’s also an 8,500-square-foot private restaurant with a 5,000-square-foot terrace and a Michelin-starred chef.
A health club takes up floors 12 through 16. The space is equipped with a fitness center, 75-foot-long swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and yoga studio. There’s also a 14-seat boardroom and a library.
Concierge and valet services are available for residents.
Building Issues
The residential needle tower is proof that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Many people feel the building is endemic of New York City’s “starchitects.” The building’s tenants filed a lawsuit against the developers. The residential board wanted $125 million in damages due to construction and design defects.
Residents complained of leaks, flooding, faulty elevators, and an “intolerable” building noise caused from swaying. Apparently, during stormy weather, the noise is so loud that it’s nearly impossible to sleep. And there was also the time when an electrical explosion wiped out the building’s power.
According to The New York Times, when the building sways, its elevators will stall, trapping residents for hours on end. Inferior plumbing has caused rampant leaks and flooding, totaling millions in structural damage. Residents have even complained about the trash chute, as falling garbage “sounds like a bomb” when it hits the bottom.
Vortex Shedding
A vortex is a whirling region of fluid like a tornado. When strong winds blow against a structure, vortices are shed across its surface and known as “vortex shedding.” The phenomenon is caused by alternating low-pressure zones on the downwind side of a building which creates a fluctuating force at right angles in the wind direction. As strong wind hits the corners of a building, the effect makes a loud noise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
How tall is 432 Park Avenue?
The superskinny residential skyscraper is 1,396 feet tall. It has 84 stories and a mezzanine floor.
Where is 432 Park Avenue located?
432 Park Avenue is in Billionaire’s Row at Park Avenue and 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The building overlooks Central Park.
How much does it cost to live in 432 Park Avenue?
Current listings vary, but you can purchase 432 Park Avenue condominiums for as little as $5.3 million. At the high end, the top price is $135 million. It is also possible to rent in a price range of $32,000 to $70,000 per month.
Who lives in the penthouse at 432 Park Avenue?
Fawaz Alhokair, a Saudi retail magnate, owns the penthouse in this residential pencil tower. He purchased it in 2016 and in 2022 he relisted it for sale at $169 million.
What was the inspiration for the exterior design of 432 Park Avenue?
Media reports have revealed that the inspiration was a 1905 waste basket design by Josef Hoffmann.
What makes Park Avenue in NYC special?
Park Avenue has long been connected with wealth and luxury. A number of iconic buildings in New York are on Park Avenue. These include Grand Central Station, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and The MetLife Building (previously called the Pan Am Building).
432 Park Avenue Conclusion
Soon after the needle towers began to appear in Manhattan, critics said the modern residences were a manifestation of transnational plutonomy. A plutonomy is a society where only a small few are super-rich, and growth is reliant on that same group of wealthy elites.
432 park Avenue has some of the priciest condos in the world. Although they come with super luxurious amenities, they come with unique challenges. Technology makes super skinny skyscrapers possible, yet hasn’t solved major issues that thwart the building’s residents.