Norman Foster's latest skyscraper in New York is an affront to the city's iconic skyline, boasting a gargantuan steel structure that dwarfs its sleeker neighbors. The $4 billion JP Morgan tower stands at 423 meters tall, with 95,000 tonnes of structural steel, dwarfing even the Empire State Building. This colossal building has been dubbed "the New York final boss," and its sheer scale is an affront to the city's architectural heritage.
Foster+Partners' design, led by Foster himself, prioritizes brute force over elegance, with a bulbous shape that dominates the street level. The tower's exterior appears more like a factory complex than a refined skyscraper, with steel columns splayed out at each corner like giant fingers. The façade is also marred by an incongruous granite "cliff face," designed by Maya Lin, which looks more like something from Disney's Frontierland.
Inside, the building is just as ostentatious, featuring a labyrinthine office layout with circadian rhythm lighting to create a detachment from the outside world. The lobby boasts great walls of fluted travertine and Gerhard Richter paintings, creating an environment that feels like a Las Vegas casino. However, critics argue that this sterile, controlled atmosphere is a far cry from a healthy work environment.
The building's structural logic has also been called into question, with some engineers suggesting that the tower could be made more efficient with fewer steel columns and reduced spans. The real culprit behind the massive steel structure, however, was a 2017 zoning change that encouraged demolition in East Midtown to make way for newer developments like Hudson Yards.
This trend towards supersized skyscrapers threatens the very essence of New York's architectural identity. Foster's European headquarters project in Canary Wharf promises even more of the same, with a design that looks more like a goliath than a refined office building. As one observer put it, "the city will soon resemble a huddle of bloated bankers squeezed into stilettos," casting long shadows over cherished peaks and obliterating views of the city.
The sheer cost of this extravagance is staggering, with JP Morgan's new tower estimated to be worth $4 billion. As the bank continues to assert its dominance in the financial world, it seems that Foster+Partners has created a monument to corporate power – one that looks less like architecture and more like a behemoth from a fantasy realm.
Foster+Partners' design, led by Foster himself, prioritizes brute force over elegance, with a bulbous shape that dominates the street level. The tower's exterior appears more like a factory complex than a refined skyscraper, with steel columns splayed out at each corner like giant fingers. The façade is also marred by an incongruous granite "cliff face," designed by Maya Lin, which looks more like something from Disney's Frontierland.
Inside, the building is just as ostentatious, featuring a labyrinthine office layout with circadian rhythm lighting to create a detachment from the outside world. The lobby boasts great walls of fluted travertine and Gerhard Richter paintings, creating an environment that feels like a Las Vegas casino. However, critics argue that this sterile, controlled atmosphere is a far cry from a healthy work environment.
The building's structural logic has also been called into question, with some engineers suggesting that the tower could be made more efficient with fewer steel columns and reduced spans. The real culprit behind the massive steel structure, however, was a 2017 zoning change that encouraged demolition in East Midtown to make way for newer developments like Hudson Yards.
This trend towards supersized skyscrapers threatens the very essence of New York's architectural identity. Foster's European headquarters project in Canary Wharf promises even more of the same, with a design that looks more like a goliath than a refined office building. As one observer put it, "the city will soon resemble a huddle of bloated bankers squeezed into stilettos," casting long shadows over cherished peaks and obliterating views of the city.
The sheer cost of this extravagance is staggering, with JP Morgan's new tower estimated to be worth $4 billion. As the bank continues to assert its dominance in the financial world, it seems that Foster+Partners has created a monument to corporate power – one that looks less like architecture and more like a behemoth from a fantasy realm.
I mean, 423 meters tall is crazy! You can barely see the Empire State Building anymore, it's like a tiny little brother next to this giant 
The design is so... industrial, I don’t get why they went for that factory complex look. It looks like something from a sci-fi movie 
And don't even get me started on that granite "cliff face" 
I mean, can't we get some balance between progress and preserving our iconic skyline? 
I mean, what's wrong with a little bit of restraint? The Empire State Building is an iconic symbol of the city, not some cookie-cutter skyscraper that dwarfs everything around it. And don't even get me started on the "granite cliff face" – sounds like something Disney would slap together for their theme park 
Not exactly what I'd call a healthy work environment. I mean, can't they just design something that blends into the community instead of sticking out like a sore thumb? 
The fact that it's costing $4 billion is just crazy – like, who needs that much money for one building? 
It's like they're trying to make a statement about corporate power or something. Newsflash: architecture isn't about grandstanding; it's about creating something beautiful and functional 
423 meters tall and $4 billion price tag?! that's just insane 
can we please keep the iconic skyline intact? 
i'm loving the idea of fewer steel columns and reduced spans for structural efficiency though 
and that granite "cliff face" looks like a total misfire 
. I mean, come on, a 423-meter skyscraper in the city of New York? It's like they're trying to outdo each other with the most ginormous structures. And what's up with all that steel and concrete? It looks like a giant factory complex stuck in the middle of Manhattan 
.
.
. Let's hope this is just a trend that passes us by and we can get back to building buildings that make us proud 
.
. And don't even get me started on that "granite cliff face" Maya Lin designed – it's like something straight out of a Disney theme park 
. I guess you could say the building is trying to create an environment that feels... sterile? controlled? yeah, that's the word 
. But hey, at least the lobby has some fancy art and marble walls to make up for it 
. On the bright side, I'm sure the views from the top will be... interesting 
.
i mean i get it JP Morgan wants to make a statement but does they have to look like a factory complex?! 
ugh
.
This building is like a giant's fist punching through the city's architectural heritage 
. And at $4 billion, it's just... ugh 
423 meters tall is crazy, thats even taller than the ESB! what was the point of adding so many steel columns tho? its all about brute force and not elegance or design at all. and the granite "cliff face" looks so out of place... like something from a disney theme park 
. i mean, cannt we have buildings that blend in with the citys skyline instead of making it look like a giant game of connect the dots?
. And have you seen the lobby? It's like they took a page straight out of a bad casino playbook 
! I mean, 423 meters tall? That's like, insane 
. I'm not saying Norman Foster didn't do his research on the building codes or anything 
.
. The steel usage is insane, and I can see why some engineers would say it's a waste of resources 
️. I mean, can't we find a way to preserve our cultural heritage while still moving forward? Maybe it's time for a more inclusive design process that takes into account multiple perspectives and stakeholders 
.
.
). Newsflash: it's not about being big and bold, it's about blending in with the city's aesthetic.
Ugh, just thinking about it makes me want to scream! 