8 Spruce Street - Beekman Tower - by Frank Gehry

[BrooklynLove]

Beautiful photos.
The building could top out now and I'd be more than happy.

It's starting to trigger fantasies of a Burj Dubai like design - continued progressive setbacks on the North side, each further spaced, until a needlepoint apex would send this building over the top.

[DarrylStrawberry]

I'm really liking the tower, but the base ain't great in my books. It has no street level retail, so I think there's a lot riding on the little park/courtyard/plaza area. James Corner is supposedly the landscape architect. The high line is great...let's see what he comes up with here.

[ZippyTheChimp]

^
They could have spent a few more bucks on the base, but I don't think the lack of retail will be a problem. There's plenty in the surrounding streets.

[ablarc]

So what will be at street level? A school secretary sitting at a reception desk?

[RoldanTTLB]

Maybe someone can double check this...

On the rendering, I counted 27 floors for the top segment (at least one a double.) So far, it looks like they've completed 11. So 16 to go.

I count 61 from the ground, or 17 to go. Either way, with a floor every few days, this thing will be topped out before Halloween.

[Sherpa]

*The following information was last updated on September 1, 2009.

Superstructure erection is underway, now at 60 stories
The concrete superstructure should be completed by May 2010
Curtain wall installation continues and should be completed by August 2010. The brick facade on the lower stories is complete.
The contract RFP for finishing work on the building's school was issued in late May 2009.
Full sidewalk closures on Spruce and Beekman Streets beside the work site
Extended work hours Monday through Saturdays 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The rooftop safety "cocoon" was reinstalled in early July 2009

[BrooklynLove]

Surprising - that ^ update seems to indicate top-out in May 2010 ...

[ZippyTheChimp]

The concrete superstructure should be completed by May 2010

Maybe it includes interior work like water pipes, electrical, etc - not just the concrete pour.

[treebeard]

I'm really liking the tower, but the base ain't great in my books. It has no street level retail, so I think there's a lot riding on the little park/courtyard/plaza area. James Corner is supposedly the landscape architect. The high line is great...let's see what he comes up with here.

Isn't there retail along Beekman on the ground floor?

[lofter1]

Just at the SW corner.

[BrooklynLove]

Maybe it includes interior work like water pipes, electrical, etc - not just the concrete pour.

Likely, and maybe decorative lighting (I hope).

[Derek2k3]

More pictures by Shaun in this thread:
http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showth...878#post296878

[kz1000ps]

[Merry]

Gorgeous shiny waves. Great photos. Very nice old/new juxtapositions.

[DKNY617]

Pics from today!