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

**midtownboy767** · April 23rd, 2009, 04:25 PM

I work in that lovely building behind this lot. The men's room has a great view of the site. The building that they took down had some very freighting backsides. Not really thrilled about having to hear construction noise all day, when and if this goes up, this office is disgusting enough to work in.

**NoyokA** · May 3rd, 2009, 01:54 PM

Probably the project I most hope is killed by the recession.

**antinimby** · May 3rd, 2009, 02:18 PM

The skin looks quite nice actually. Too bad the boxy shape is such a bore.

Can SOM-NY move away from the "box" for office buildings just for once?

**NoyokA** · May 3rd, 2009, 02:24 PM

I think it looks incredibly tacky and kitschy. A modern day 2 Broadway destined for a future re-clad.

**philvia** · May 3rd, 2009, 03:30 PM

nah i like the facade and it could turn out really nice depending on the quality.

**econ_tim** · May 3rd, 2009, 06:33 PM

the site has been completely inactive for a couple months now, so don't have to worry about seeing anything in the near future

**econ_tim** · May 14th, 2009, 02:51 PM

Extell's Diamond District Tower to Bling Up Midtown
Thursday, May 14, 2009, by Joey

After buying up most of the buildings and air rights in the Diamond District, former diamond dealer and current megadeveloper Gary Barnett is finally ready to get his commercial condominium tower in the neighborhood off the ground. The design of the 40-story Skidmore, Owings and Merrill office building has been out there for a while, but an invite sent out for the tower's launch party on May 19th contains a special treat: the first detailed look at the diamond pattern that will grace the building's facade. Also, the building—with an entrance on West 47th Street for diamond industry tenants and a separate lobby on 46th Street for those dealing in less precious materials—will now be known as the International Gem Tower. Noted!
· Will Extell Prove That Diamonds are Forever? [Curbed]
· Extell Breaks the Will of the Diamond District [Curbed]

**stache** · May 14th, 2009, 03:32 PM

Turning back the clock 50 years -

**londonlawyer** · May 14th, 2009, 03:40 PM

Gershon and his cronies in the Russian and Israeli mob apparently need to launder some serious money if he is building a speculative office building in this market.

**Common Sense** · May 14th, 2009, 08:21 PM

ugliest thing ever. enough said.

**ablarc** · May 15th, 2009, 08:46 AM

^ Is it really? How can you tell?

**Shadly** · May 15th, 2009, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by ablarc

^ Is it really? How can you tell?

Looking... Seeing...

**antinimby** · May 15th, 2009, 12:05 PM

Very boring shape but hardly the ugliest ever.

**Common Sense** · May 15th, 2009, 04:26 PM

Do you see the available renderings? Straight up box and my god that skin. Not to mention that bass, which could be a place holder base though. Why do you need to be an architect to design this. Anyone could design a building better then this and my fee I bet would be a hell of a lot less.