The Durst Org. tops out 450' tall rental building at 625 West 57th Street

The Durst Org. has topped out 625 West 57th St. A final bucket of structural cement was hoisted to the top of the 450' tall building to mark the completion of the superstructure and the beginning of the final phase of construction. "When we first designed this building a lot of people told us that it couldn't be built," said Jonathan (Jody) Durst, president of The Durst Org. "The naysayers said it was too complex and that the trades could never get the job done. We knew better. Despite its complex and unique form we had faith in our design team and knew that the New York construction trades were up to the task. And for their hard work and professionalism, we are profoundly grateful." The 709-unit rental building designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)has a tetrahedron design and is one of the most architecturally distinctive buildings ever constructed in the city. Ground was broken in 2013 and the lease-up begins at the end of 2015. The building will include 55,000 s/f of retail space and 141 affordable rental units. The building has a suite of amenities including 24,000 s/f of landscaped outdoor space, a swimming pool, basketball court, full-service gym, poker room, screening room, a golf simulator, multiple lounges/ party rooms and a children's playroom. The 625 West 57th St. project is a hybrid between the European perimeter block and a traditional city high-rise development. The building's unique shape combines the advantages of both: the compactness and efficiency of a courtyard building providing density, a sense of intimacy and with the airiness and the expansive views of a skyscraper. The form of the building shifts depending on the viewer's vantage point. While appearing like a pyramid from the West-Side-Hwy., it turns into a glass spire from West 58th St. The courtyard which is inspired by both the classic Copenhagen urban oasis and Central Park can be seen from the street and serves to visually extend the adjacent greenery of the Hudson River Park into the West 57th development. The slope of the building allows for a transition in scale between the riverfront and the high-rise residential towers to the north of the site. The highly visible sloping roof is perforated by terraces—each one unique. Every apartment gets a bay window to amplify the benefits of the generous view and balconies. Careful consideration was devoted to the window design of each apartment allowing for maximum privacy, views of the 20,000 s/f courtyard or an unobstructed stretch of the river. The building will offer its residents all the benefits of living in the city, while being connected with the simple aesthetic of nature. In addition to the building's unique design, it features a number of cutting-edge sustainable features including: * Heat recovery for exhaust and outside air systems. * Rainwater collection for cooling tower make-up and irrigation. * Use of The Helena's surplus treated water for cooling tower make-up and irrigation. * Radiant heat in public areas. * VFD (variable frequency drive) motors for all pumps, fans. * Garage ventilation on CO metered system * Hybrid heat pumps, which have high EER and uses less energy in the heating season. The Durst Org., founded in 1915 by Joseph Durst, is the owner, manager and builder of 13 million s/f of premiere Manhattan office towers and 1,250 residential rental units with 1,150 under construction and 2,400 in the development pipeline. The Durst Org. is recognized as a world leader in the development of high-performance and environmentally advanced commercial and residential buildings.