Designers and structural engineers have likely all played Jenga, the children’s game, with their kids and then took the idea to their studios and the street. They are having a ball with the new Jenga towers and are building them in several cities around the US and the globe. Revised height restrictions and restricted sites are making the new designs possible and the owners and tenants are snapping them up as fast as they can be built.
One of those projects, a 60-story residential tower known as 56 Leonard is a prime example of the structural challenges presented to the build team and their solutions that have made for some outstanding prime real estate in New York City.
According to one description:
“56 Leonard is a new Global Landmark in Tribeca. Developed by Alexico Group and designed by Herzog & de Meuron, 56 Leonard is a vertical glass expression of sculpted surfaces, cantilevers and sparkling glass with an original Anish Kapoor sculpture at its base. The 145 unique condominium residences, each with private outdoor space, range from open lofts to five bedrooms. Soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass window walls reveal breathtaking panoramas of the cityscape, water, bridges and beyond. Izak Senbahar’s vison for an iconic tower in the New York skyline for this Tribeca location was actualized by Pritzker-Prize winning architects Herzog & de Meuron. At 60 stories, 56 Leonard is a monumental symbol of great art and architecture with an original Anish Kapoor sculpture at its base. Called the most alluring addition to the downtown skyline in decades, 56 Leonard’s 17,000 square feet of amenities include a 75’ infinity pool, indoor/outdoor theater, outdoor sundeck, fitness center, treatment rooms, steam room, sauna, lounge and children’s playroom.”
Hines, the global real estate owner, developer, and manager was development manager on the 56 Leonard. Lendlease, the Australian based builder was the general contractor on the award-winning project.
This timelapse video of the build will give you an overview of the unique challenges presented by this Jenga design. http://www.alexicogroup.com/?page_id=15
This video presents some of the issues and the solutions in this tower. More to come.
