Known simply as “29th & 5th,” the site for BIG’s proposed NoMad skyscraper is located at 3 West 29th Street, several blocks south of the Empire State Building, in Midtown Manhattan. The future office tower will eventually rise 34 stories and 551 feet tall, making it stand out amongst the local vicinity. Covering 300,000 square feet, it incorporates a mix of a glass curtain wall on the eastern facade with staggered open terraces for workers to step out and see the views of the skyline. HFZ Capital Group is the developer of the upcoming project.

Looking at the site, three drilling rig trucks have been spotted testing the land on the southern end of the property. Excavation is likely to begin once this stage of preparation is complete. The project sits between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, and stretches the width from West 28th Street to West 29th Street.

Sitting on opposite sides facing West 28th Street are the Marble Collegiate Church and the Gilsey House. HFZ had to purchase air rights from both properties, and both landmarked buildings were a critical aspect for the height of 29th & 5th.

Excavation and foundation work for BIG’s Midtown tower should happen sometime in the first half of 2019. Its presence among the skyline would be most notable for the Nomad neighborhood, as the bulk of skyscrapers are currently north of the Empire State Building. Other tall towers near 3 West 29th Street include 45 East 22nd Street designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, One Madison designed by Cetraruddy, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, and two newcomers at 15 East 30th Street and 277 Fifth Avenue.

All of these, including BIG’s future skyscraper, form a new cluster of buildings below 34th Street, extending the skyline southwards when looking from New Jersey and Long Island.

No completion date for the project has been announced yet, but a target of 2021 or 2022 seems probable.

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