Moscow Studio Meganom to Design a Skyscraper in Manhattan

Dezeen.com wrote about fantastic project of a skyscraper in New York by Moscow Studio Meganom — a slender, 305-metre residential bulding planned for Midtown Manhattan.

«Meganom is one of the most prominent Moscow studios, and their main referrals are the most important town-planning projects in the Russian capital won by them at Moscow international competitions. I’m talking about the redevelopment of the vast territory of the former ZIL, the concept of development of coastal areas of the main waterway of Moscow, an extension to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the renovation of the Kremlin Museum. I am glad that this Russian company has such a background and enters the international market with a fantastic project of a skyscraper in New York, which demonstrates the highest quality of current Moscow projects quite comparable to what is now happening in the top modern cities of the world», said Chief Architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsov.

The supertall tower, called 262 Fifth Avenue, is slated to rise in the Nomad district near Madison Square Park. The skyscraper will ascend to 1,001 feet (305 metres).

«A progressive example of forward-thinking and contemporary design, it will include several ’firsts’ in terms of its design and environmental sustainability features,» said the team.

The slim skyscraper by Meganom will occupy a parcel that spans from 260 to 264 Fifth Avenue. Two vacant structures are being demolished to make way for the tower, while a historic, 12-storey limestone building will be integrated into the skyscraper’s base.

The project will be Meganom’s first in America. Founded in 1998, the Moscow-based architecture and urban design firm led by Yury Grigoyan, llya Kuleshov, Elena Uglovskaya and Artem Staborovsky.

The firm’s recent commissions include an extension to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the renovation of the Kremlin Museum and the creation of a new masterplan for Gorky Park — all located in Moscow.

For the Manhattan project, the studio has conceived a narrow tower wrapped in aluminium and glass. The eastern facade will feature oversized and perforated porthole windows. On the north and south elevations, floor-to-ceiling windows will offer residents expansive views of the city.

The tower will be topped with a rectilinear crown that will serve as a viewing area. «At its summit, a soaring metal frame will create a striking arched observation deck atop the skyscraper,» said the architects.

The tower’s form is influenced by its structural system. A mechanical core will run up the west side of the tower, as opposed to the centre, which will enable column-free living spaces.

«The form of the skyscraper is inspired by a unique structural system that separates the building’s functioning core from its living spaces, creating expansive, unobstructed, column-free and customisable full-floor residences — an inventive design solution unprecedented in a New York high-rise,» said the team.