Construction begins on Hudson Yards in New York City

Construction has begun on the South Tower (right) of the Hudson Yards development in New York City. Image: Courtesy visualhouse

Ground has broken on the first tower in the Hudson Yards project, on a 26-acre site near the Javits Convention Center on the western edge of Manhattan. The South Tower, one of two office towers designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) will comprise 47 floors and 1.7 million square feet (158,000 square meters).

Located on the northwest corner of 10th Avenue and 30th Street, the building will house the headquarters of Coach, Inc. and will target LEED Gold certification upon its completion in 2015.

Overview of the eastern half of the Hudson Yards development. Image: Courtesy visualhouse

The South Tower will be joined to its North Tower counterpart by a low-rise retail structure, called the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, that will run along 10th avenue between 30th and 33rd Streets.

This building cluster will anchor the eastern edge of the development. To the west, a public plaza and park will extend as far as Manhattan's West Side Highway, flanked by a series of high-rise and mid-rise mixed use towers.

A public square will be located just west of the North and South Towers building cluster. Image: Courtesy visualhouse

Two of the tallest remaining towers have been designed by other prominent New York firms:

Image: Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group

D Tower

• Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group
• 72 stories
• 844 feet (857 meters) tall
• 800,000 square feet (square meters)

Image: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

E Tower

• Designed by David M. Childs / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• 60 stories
• 950 feet (290 meters) tall
• 1.1 million square feet (102,000 square meters)

Caption. Image: Courtesy visualhouse

The western half of the project, including the West Tower, a 750-seat public school, and several mid-rise residential buildings will be built on a platform above an existing train yard. The third phase of the High Line project will also wind through this western half of the site.

Rendering of the Hudson Yards towers as they would be seen from the High Line. Image: Courtesy visualhouse

Upon its completion, the Hudson Yards development will comprise 12 million square feet (1.1 million square meters) of new construction and 12 acres (4.9 hectares) of public space.

Section rendering through the top portion of the Hudson Yards North Tower, including the cantilevered public observation deck. Image: Courtesy visualhouse

Distant overview of Hudson Yards and the western Manhattan waterfront. Image: Courtesy visualhouse