Norman Foster Still in the Running to Design 2 World Trade Center
Foster’s original design
Nearly one year ago it was revealed that starchitect Bjarke Ingels would be taking over the design of 2 World Trade Center from Norman Foster as developer Silverstein Properties was in talks with Fox and News Corp. to make the tower their new headquarters. However, plans fell through in January when the media companies opted to remain at their Midtown headquarters at 1211 and 1185 Sixth Avenue.
Now without a tenant and two different designs in hand, Chairman Larry Silverstein is said to be weighing both options. “[The top of] Two was a distinguishing feature of Norman Foster’s design,” Silverstein told The Post. “Opposed to what Bjarke Ingels proposed. We can go in either direction. Which way, we are not sure yet.” But he did add that they were leaning towards Ingels’ design in discussions being had with prospective anchor tenants, which include BlackRock and JPMorganChase.
Ingels’ design
Bjarke Ingels Group took on the design of 2 World Trade Center last June, ousting Norman Foster who had designed a faceted tower with a diamond topper more than a decade ago—the skyscraper was long considered the most attractive of the bunch going up on the 9/11 site. Ingels’ scheme is far different, featuring a series of stacked glass boxes with setbacks providing for space for terrace gardens.
As 6sqft previously reported, Foster received the boot because his design was deemed “problematic,” as it was laid out for an investment bank with trading floors, not a media company with studio space. The former fact may, however, provide a sliver of hope for Foster’s foregone design if one of the financial companies Silverstein is talking with comes through—and shows a preference for the previous tower.
[Via NY Post]
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