Amidst the ongoing evolution of the Manhattan skyline, one of the most notable recent changes has been the completion of the Midtown East rezoning, which has already resulted in the rise of One Vanderbilt. Now, with 270 Park Avenue and other projects already on the development boards, Vornado and Rudin Management’s plans for 350 Park Avenue have been fully revealed, depicting yet another supertall that would rise almost 1,500 feet to its pinnacle. While the architect has not been confirmed, YIMBY is strongly suspicious that the design is by Foster + Partners, the firm responsible for the nearly-complete 425 Park Avenue.

The plans were leaked thanks to a mysterious brochure created by both Vornado and Rudin Management. The multi-page prospectus contains dozens of images for the project, featuring both interiors and exteriors, offering a surprisingly comprehensive early look for something that is likely still at least a few years from the start of actual construction.

Architecturally, the design for 350 Park Avenue would be a dramatic departure from both historical and contemporary stylings that currently predominate the Manhattan skyline, featuring a striking mix of classical massing proportions and an ultra-modern facade that is very reminiscent of Foster’s Hearst Tower. With staggered setbacks progressing inward from Park Avenue, the envelope would shrink substantially from the street level to the rooftop, appearing similar in silhouette to a cheese grater.

While a 1,500-foot tower would be out of place in most neighborhoods, the plans for 350 Park Avenue are most definitely within the norm for Midtown East. With 432 Park Avenue and One Vanderbilt already mirroring the 1,400-foot mark, plans for towers including 270 Park Avenue and Harry Macklowe’s Tower Fifth will only add further to the supertalls already in existence. Surprisingly, 350 Park Avenue will only be middle of the pack for the area, though it will most certainly hold its own on the overall Midtown skyline.

The site for 350 Park Avenue sits between 51st and 52nd Streets, and Lois Weiss of the New York Post was the first to report on the potential assemblage a few weeks ago. Construction would require the demolition of Vornado’s extant building on Park Avenue, and a 23-story tower owned by Rudin Management next door.

No completion date has been announced for the site, and with no demolition permits filed for either of the extant structures, it appears significant paperwork must still be dealt with before 350 Park Avenue officially enters the development pipeline.

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