HEARST TOWER CASE STUDY 1
ARCHITECT: LOCATION: COMPLETED: HEIGHT: FLOOR COUNT:
20
Norman Foster New York City, New York 2006 597 ft/182m Height: 597’ (182 m)
Structurally the Hearst Tower provides insight into deviations from the traditional perimeter frame. It is a relatively light structure weighting in at 9,500 metric tons; twenty percent less than a conventional steel tower of similar dimensions. The new tower’s structural foundation is also unique because of the new systems interacting with the original as well as the bedrock conditions. In order to have this new tower rise above a landmark, (21) socketed caissons that extend 30 feet in length were implements and etched into the bedrock. Dept is a variable depending on portion of the site, ranging from 20-45 feet below grade. To address the structural stability of the original building shell, the existing wall had to be braced while preserving the openness of the iconic lobby. The lobby atrium occupies the entirety of the original building and transfers the floor area that would have been on the remodeled floor into the tower. This not only addressed specific zoning regulations but it effectively created an unique case study where a historic existing building in its entirety became the base and entry to a modern intervention. The Hearst Tower is built upon an existing six story building that was constructed in 1928. The original ON BUILDING
HEARST TOWER