Steel Erection Underway For Massive Midtown Supertall

JP Morgan Chase's plan to completely redevelop their headquarters at 270 Park Avenue is without exaggeration, one of the most ambitious projects New York has seen in decades. The multinational investment bank just tore down its 707-foot tall head office, the Union Carbide Building. It took over 2 years, and in doing so, the old midcentury skyscraper became the tallest building ever to be voluntarily demolished. Now that demolition work is over, the company has been hard at work constructing their new home.

With a planned height of 1,425 feet tall, JP Morgan Chase's new corporate headquarters will double the height of the old one. In fact, the Foster + Partners-designed tower will total over 2.5 million square feet and contain office space for 15,000 employees. In comparison, the Union Carbide Building was only fit to hold 3,500.

Currently, at the site, general contractor, Tishman Construction is in the process of piecing together and erecting 270's complex structural framework. 

If you look very carefully at the scaffolding platform in the photo above (next to the yellow tarp), you'll notice the small orange flame from a rosebud torch. An ironworker is using this to quickly heat up and strengthen a thick piece of steel. Many of these can be seen around the site, and it's a sign that work is moving along quickly.

The sheer scale of the project is hard to comprehend, even in this early stage of construction. With such a presence now, the finished tower will undoubtedly be the crown jewel of East Midtown. Construction of 270 Park Place is expected to finish in 2024.

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