David Adjaye’s statement-making first skyscraper design for the New York City market has debuted in Lower Manhattan, marking the culmination of a project that will stand as a testament to his attention to historical context and the elevation of craft in architecture.
The design for the 66-story 130 William residential tower in the heart of the Financial District includes a total of 242 units whose careful, well-appointed interiors are complemented by another 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and curated amenities apiece.
Photos of the newly-completed project reveal a range of built-in luxury options, including a small IMAX theater, two lounges, a golf simulator, basketball court, full-scale health club, infinity-edge spa pool, dry sauna, and yoga studio. The ten uppermost floors of the building are lined by loggia terraces, with a rooftop observation deck located on top that offers residents privileged views of the city’s skyline and harbor beyond.
Noted for its use of hand-cast concrete as the featured material in its distinctive dark pumice-like façade, the roughly 800-foot tower (by far the tallest design in Adjaye’s three-decade arsenal) presents itself among a forest of glass-and-steel corporate structures as a foreboding signature piece completed by rows of high-arching bronze-accented windows and a pocket park underneath.
The project was first announced in 2017 as a markedly different shimmering 61-story gold-hued design before turning into what is considered by many to be the 56-year-old architect’s most significant construction following the completion of the National Museum of African American History and Culture the year prior.
“I am deeply excited to celebrate the realization of the public plaza park and officially mark the completion of 130 William,” Adjaye commented on the milestone. “Conceived as an urban living room, the plaza is fundamental to how one experiences the building. The plaza creates both a public amenity and a transitional moment between the bustle of the city and the respite of the private residences inside. With its allée of trees, seating, and thematic continuation of the large-scaled arches, the public plaza park is really a gesture to the city and a critical facet of what makes this building unique.”
“We are proud of our collaboration with Adjaye Associates, Hill West and Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group and with 130 William we have set a new standard for residential development that will stand the test of time,” developer Scott J. Avram of Lightstone said finally.
Adjaye Associates is more than a year removed from its last update on the proposed Affirmation Tower, an inverted 1,663-foot supertall design that garnered widespread attention after renderings of the concept were first published in October of 2021. The firm has already made a considerable impact further uptown with its 2014 Sugar Hill affordable housing development and is set to break ground soon on a new 840,000-square-foot mixed-use campus in Brooklyn that seeks to address wealth inequality in a portion of the historically Black Bed-Stuy neighborhood while prioritizing the public realm.
Additional project images can be viewed below.
6 Comments
Brilliant.
David Adjaye, architect of remarkable fame, Whose work has garnered praise and widespread acclaim, His use of timeless forms, a captivating sight, Invokes a sense of awe, a harmonious delight.
With well-considered materials, he weaves his tale, Exciting and diverse, they never seem to fail. From concrete to timber, metal to glass, Each choice carefully made, an artistic pass.
His care for public space, a noble endeavor, Creating places for all, where people can gather. From museums to libraries, cultural hubs, Adjaye's designs invite, as if to give hugs.
He straddles the line, between minimal and grand, Creating a union, a concept so unplanned. With purity of lines, he captures the essence, While ornamentation adds a touch of opulence.
His body of work, a testament of skill, A blend of innovation and tradition's thrill. David Adjaye, an architect of great renown, Leaving an indelible mark, a visionary crown.
His legacy will endure, through space and time, For his contributions to architecture, sublime. A masterful craftsman, his creations inspire, Elevating our built world, ever higher.
This aged like milk
...and then 2 days later, other news about Adjaye broke.
...and then they realized that his work is banal. A grid of arched openings is still a grid.
perfect for creeping on unsuspecting people below..
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