Taking cues from the Metabolist movement of the late ‘60’s and early ‘70s, One Madison Park, employs a modular, plug-in design concept articulated through “pods”. These cube-like forms deconstruct the building’s mass and give it a sense of lightness while also creating a variety of units. Cantilevered from the main shaft, the pods also extend the tower’s 2,700 SF floor plate to 3,300 SF. This unique feature grew out of the need to expedite construction and from the desire to offer a mix of apartment types, some with terraces.

One Madison Park’s design utilizes lateral bracing placed in the center instead of around the perimeter, forming a cruciform of shear walls, buried between rooms and shafts, minimizing the impact to room layouts. The 50-story, 620-foot tower employs a unique engineering design. A Tuned Liquid Damping system incorporated into the building structure at roof level mitigates lateral movement caused by wind and seismic forces.

Another key element of the design was creating a modern building that would complement the fabric of Madison Square Park and the classic architecture of the neighborhood. The main tower shaft is composed of earth-toned bronze glass, enabling it to blend with the older surrounding limestone and masonry buildings. One Madison Park’s tall and slender form also complements its two famous neighbors, the Flatiron Building and the MetLife tower, creating a graceful linear progression between the three towers.

One Madison Park’s design is simple, yet distinctive and striking, conveying an understated elegance not often found in contemporary architecture. Its slender shape and innovative engineering pushes the limits of today’s skyscrapers, earning the tower its place in the iconography of the New York City skyline.