The Museum of Modern Art, which owned the building's lot, completed a major expansion in 2004 and sold the lot to developer Gerald D. Hines for $125 million in 2007. The developer also bought air rights from the University Club of New York and St. Thomas Church. Hines planned to build a skyscraper called Tower Verre on the site. The building, designed by Jean Nouvel, initially was proposed to stand 1,250 feet tall. Nicolai Ouroussoff of The New York Times called the project "one of the most exciting additions to New York's skyline in a generation". Tower Verre ran into considerable opposition. Residents and preservationists said that the design would "prevent it from harmoniously fitting into its surroundings", and state senatorLiz Krueger said that the building would "overwhelm the area’s infrastructure and services". On September 9, 2009, the New York City Planning Commission said the building could be built if were clipped off the top. The decision was derided by several prominent architecture critics. The version was approved by the New York City Council on October 28, 2009, in a 44-3 vote.
Construction
Financing had been scarce until October 2013, when the Kwee brothers' Pontiac Land agreed to provide $200 million in equity, supported by an $860 million loan from a consortium of Asian banks. In September 2014, the air rights were purchased from MoMA and the building became known as 53 West 53. Pontiac Land Group and Goldman Sachs served as Hines' development partners on the building, and together they secured an $860 million construction loan from a consortium of Asian banks including United Overseas Bank, Maybank, OCBC Bank, and DBS Bank. Construction started in 2015. By July 2016, construction management company Lend Lease had completed excavation and foundation work with superstructure concrete up to the 8th floor. The building officially topped-out in August 2018, with the final apex of the building being put in in late December 2018. It was completed in November 2019.
Usage
Officially named 53 West 53, the building is 82-story, 145-unit tower with a total height of. 53W53's total floor area is approximately, and the condominiums in the building were designed by Thierry Despont. The building's skin contains a faceted facade that tapers to a set of crystalline peaks at the apex of the tower., 53 West 53 is the seventh-tallest completed building in the city.
Amenities
The building is mixed-use, with gallery space, condominiums, and a private restaurant. There are 145 residences, from one to five bedroom options. One bedroom residences are priced from $3 million and the top floor duplex penthouse is priced at over $80 million. The project added some of gallery space to MoMA. Residents have special privileges at MoMA, including unlimited free admission to the museum, exhibition previews, discounts in MoMA stores, and access to film screenings. The building also includes a private formal dining room, priority access to an in-building restaurant, a library with a fireplace, a children's playroom, a wine tasting room and a lounge with Central Park views available for events. Services available for a fee include a pantry stocking service, a housekeeping service, and pet walking.
