Brookfield Property Partners has begun the installation of a unique set of glass panels on the exterior of 450 West 33rd Street, marking the start of the transformation of that building into Five Manhattan West, the first of three commercial buildings that will occupy the five-acre site.
Designed by REX Associates, the uniquely configured glass panels will be installed on the east-facing façade of the building overlooking the portion of the site that was recently decked over, covering the Penn Station rail tracks below.
The glass panels are being installed from the bottom of the building up, in approximately 10 x 30 foot sections, hoisted into place by a rig mounted on the roof and secured by workers with guide wires on the side of the building. They will replace the original concrete façade that has been painstakingly stripped away over the last several months. This work is also taking place while the building is partially occupied; a feat of scheduling that is typically not undertaken in New York City construction.
When completed in 2018, Manhattan West will include two class-A office towers, a residential building, retail, rooftop gardens, restaurants and cafes. The site will be transected by a two-acre park, in total, a seven-million-square-foot project.
