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All-Black team proposes “tallest building in Western hemisphere” for Manhattan

The tower’s design would maximise the floor area provided by the site (Adjaye Associates)
If it goes ahead, ‘Affirmation Tower’ would be the first building in New York City constructed by a team of Black architects, developers, lenders and builders.

UK architect Adjaye Associates has proposed a 507m skyscraper for Manhattan that would have the tallest roof height not only in the city of towers but in the whole of the Western hemisphere as well.

Affirmation Tower, which has yet to receive planning permission, would be made up of a series of stepped cantilevers on a 4,900 sq m site close to the Hudson Yards on the west of the Midtown section of Manhattan.

The top of the tower would stretch out five times further than the base, allowing space for two hotels and a skating rink. The plan is for the building to house commercial offices and the headquarters for the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).

The developer of the scheme is the Peebles Corporation, and the contractor would be McKissack & McKissack, a minority and woman-owned construction firm. Exact Capital and investor Steve Witkoff would be involved in financing it.

The Commercial Observer news site notes that, if it goes ahead, it would be the first building in New York City constructed by a team of Black architects, developers, lenders and builders.

Don Peebles, the chief executive of the Peebles Corporation, said in a statement: “This project is emblematic of true equity in development. A symbol for all who visit New York, cementing in brick and mortar that New York is serious about economic inclusion.”

The project followed a call in March from the Empire State Development Corporation, New York State’s economic development arm, for proposals to build on its “site K” lot.

The Affirmation Tower would be Adjaye’s second Manhattan skyscraper, following the residential tower 130 William, which was opened last year.

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Comments

  1. The super tall‘s Are getting to be too much Manhattan I never thought I’d say that as a lifelong New Yorker. Claustrophobic

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