At 1,428ft, 111 West 57th Street is one of New York City’s tallest residential towers. Completed in 2022, the development combines a super-slender tower designed by SHoP Architects, residential interiors by Studio Sofield, and a structural system engineered by WSP to accommodate a height-to-width ratio of approximately 1:24.
Developed jointly by JDS Development Group, a New York-based real estate development company, and Property Markets Group (PMG), a real estate investment and development firm, the project integrates a new residential tower with the restored Steinway Hall on a constrained Midtown Manhattan site.
Restoring Manhattan’s architectural heritage
Long before the residential tower was built, the site was occupied by Steinway Hall, designed by Warren and Wetmore as the home of Steinway & Sons. Completed in 1925, the building later became a recognised landmark on West 57th Street.
The building also housed a 240-seat recital hall, which operated from 1925 until the beginning of the Second World War, after which it was converted into office space.
As part of 111 West 57th Street, Steinway Hall was restored and adapted into residential use. The conversion retained elements of the original character of the 14 pre-war residences.
The layout of the development was shaped by the need to preserve Steinway Hall. The tower was set back from Steinway Hall, preserving clear views of the landmark from West 57th Street.
Together, they form a single development while retaining distinct identities.
Designing a super-slender tower for Manhattan’s skyline
SHoP Architects developed the new tower’s form around the constraints of its Midtown location, creating a slender profile shaped by zoning requirements and the need to maximise residential views.
With a height-to-width ratio of approximately 1:24, the tower uses a series of setbacks to create a feathered profile rather than the stepped form commonly associated with high-rise buildings.
The design draws inspiration from the proportions and material depth of historic New York skyscrapers while developing a contemporary residential tower. The design uses terracotta, bronze, and glass to create a façade that references the craftsmanship of earlier generations of Manhattan towers.
Engineering the structure behind 111 West 57th Street
The tower’s slender proportions required a structural system capable of managing wind forces, movement, and occupant comfort.
WSP’s structural design uses two major shear walls running along the tower’s east and west elevations, providing stability against wind and seismic forces.
Locating the shear walls on these elevations keeps the remaining façades largely unobstructed, opening views across Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
A tuned mass damper near the top of the tower helps manage wind-induced movement.
Mechanical engineering was provided by Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B), an engineering firm specialising in building systems design.
Crafting a façade of terracotta, bronze, and glass
The north and south elevations feature glazed curtain wall systems, while the east and west elevations incorporate terracotta rainscreen panels with bronze detailing. Buro Happold, an international engineering consultancy, provided façade engineering services for the tower envelope and the new 57th Street entrance.
The terracotta elements were developed through digital modelling, with blocks of varying profiles arranged in an undulating pattern across the façade. The design uses 23 unique terracotta shapes and multiple glazes to create variation in the surface, while bronze filigree extends between the vertical elements.
Changes in light and viewing distance reveal different textures and shadow patterns across the terracotta and bronze façade.
Designing luxury residences above Manhattan
The residential interiors were designed by Studio Sofield, an interior design studio based in New York.
The tower residences include full-floor and duplex layouts, with ceiling heights reaching 14ft and views extending across Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
Inside Steinway Hall, the residential conversion retains the character of the original building through traditional layouts, coved walls, stepped panelled doors, and intricately patterned solid oak floors.
Together, the two parts of the development provide contrasting residential environments: contemporary homes within a super-slender tower and residences shaped by the history of a restored landmark.
Beyond the residences, the project includes shared amenities, retail spaces, and a lobby. A former piano loading dock was transformed into a private porte cochère, adapting an element of Steinway Hall’s original function for the building’s new residential use.
Lighting design was provided by L’Observatoire International, a lighting design firm. Civil and environmental engineering was provided by AKRF.
