55 West 46th St - International Gem Tower - by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

**Derek2k3** · October 21st, 2008, 03:57 PM

39 stories 574 feet according to the most recent DOB filing.
http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/Jo...ssdocnumber=01

Same height as 300 Madison, Ernst & Young, former Lehman Brothers Building, and the Reuters Building. (all 575')

**econ_tim** · October 24th, 2008, 03:32 PM

got a better pic:

**Derek2k3** · October 31st, 2008, 10:26 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848771...82568/sizes/o/

Hayes Davidson
http://www.hayesdavidson.com/

**NoyokA** · October 31st, 2008, 12:29 PM

Great, another CIBC Tower

**Tectonic** · October 31st, 2008, 06:05 PM

Fits right into the neighborhood.

**antinimby** · October 31st, 2008, 06:28 PM

The skin is actually quite nice (clear, quality glass has a way of doing that). Too bad the same can't be said of the overall shape of the tower.

Over time, it'll just become another anonymous box among the many in Midtown.

**NYC4Life** · October 31st, 2008, 11:03 PM

It is more of a filler skyscraper than an architectural gem.

**Antares41** · November 1st, 2008, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by antinimby

The skin is actually quite nice (clear, quality glass has a way of doing that). Too bad the same can't be said of the overall shape of the tower.

Over time, it'll just become another anonymous box among the many in Midtown.

I agree the facade a bit more interesting than the original rendering, but its definitely a building shape by functionality. Will be interesting to see how it looks in the direct sunlight and from the observation decks of the ESB and 30Rock. Volume wise it also look very substantial.

**antinimby** · November 1st, 2008, 07:23 PM

Not that substantial. Around 700-800k square feet. Less than that of 11 Times Square (1.1 msf).

SOM-NY should never be allowed to do any more office buildings.

They have shown they can be creative when it comes to residentials but for some reason, they just can't seem to be able to think outside of the box (literally) when it comes to commercial.

They've killed us with their 7 Times Square, 300 Madison Ave and now this.

**Shadly** · November 6th, 2008, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by antinimby

The skin is actually quite nice (clear, quality glass has a way of doing that).

It's amazing how mediocre this building gets after dark. I wonder if a lot of thought was put into the design to make it suck at night and look so so during the day.

**lbjefferies** · November 6th, 2008, 12:21 PM

^^^

Wow, you really speak quite knowingly about something that doesn't exist. But even more impressive is your ability to type full sentences with your bottom. This is what happens when I try it:

ak;jbwevarfen/kj32'[p90d

;dSLMp[ek.,

Absolutely nonsensical. One would have no idea I was trying to type: "You are an idiot."

**kz1000ps** · November 7th, 2008, 12:46 AM

The skin looks like a cross between the Met Life's and Boston's Prudential Tower, both of which represent the worst the '60s had to offer.

**ItstheBeat** · November 7th, 2008, 01:37 AM

I think this could turn out surprisingly well for an average short box. With the right shades of glass this filler could actually be interesting.

**Shadly** · November 17th, 2008, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by lbjefferies

^^^

Wow, you really speak quite knowingly about something that doesn't exist. But even more impressive is your ability to type full sentences with your bottom. This is what happens when I try it:

ak;jbwevarfen/kj32'[p90d

;dSLMp[ek.,

Absolutely nonsensical. One would have no idea I was trying to type: "You are an idiot."

You just have to practice more. You'll get it.