The Spiral – 66 Hudson Boulevard
New York
Best Office/Retail/Mixed Use
Presented by: WSP USA
Region: ENR New York
Owner: Tishman Speyer
Main design company: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
General contractor: Turner Construction Co.
Structural engineer: WSP USA
MEP Engineer: Cosentini Associates
Executive Architect: Adamson and associates
Subcontractors: steel banker; Cives Steel Co.; Civet Cousins
The Spiral – 66 Hudson Boulevard, a 67-story office building, was built in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of Manhattan. Standing 1,031 feet tall and containing 2.85 million square feet of office space, the building’s design includes spiral-shaped exterior landscaped terraces, which give rise to the structure’s name. Approximately 30,000 tons of structural steel were fabricated for the project, and toolmakers and operations engineers completed more than 500,000 hours of steel assembly.
“When we embarked on the Spiral, we set out to create the ultimate modern, collaborative and sustainable workplace,” says Chris McCartin, senior managing director of design and construction at Tishman Speyer. “The tower’s defining feature, a series of cascading terraces that ascend in a spiral motion to form a continuous green path that wraps around the facade, provides occupants with easily accessible outdoor space on each floor of the tower “.
The building’s eponymous spiral design was created using a multi-story inclined column system.
Image courtesy of WSP USA
Creating the spiral posed unique challenges for the construction team. A multi-story inclined column system was used for the design, but it caused substantial imbalance. The solution was found in a system of horizontal ground steel trusses at each level of the building, transferring loads to the core and stabilizing the structure.
Safety was of utmost importance to the project team. The construction manager, Turner Construction, instituted several strict practices to ensure worker safety.
Steel mesh walkways were built, giving workers a level surface to move throughout the job site. Additionally, a metal screen cocoon system was attached to the building’s columns, preventing anyone from falling during construction.
Following a strict schedule, the project was completed on time and on budget.
