It is a classic Manhattan skyscraper with several setbacks; however, it is radical in that its façade design gives a creased and wrinkled effect similar to draped fabric. The 1.2 million SF project is built in the middle of the block bounded by Nassau, Beekman, Spruce and Gold Streets, just south of the Brooklyn Bridge. With a height of 867 feet (264 meters), Beekman Tower is the tallest structure in the City Hall area and comprises some of the highest residences in the city.
The first four floors comprise a school cafeteria, auditorium, classrooms, gymnasium and a library. Medical offices for the hospital next door are located on the fifth floor. The sixth level is reserved for mechanical space. Amenities for residential use are located on the seventh floor including a swimming pool on a building setback. Rental apartments are located on floors 8 to 37 and 39 to 76.
Beekman Tower is constructed of reinforced cast-in-place concrete. The lateral wind and seismic resisting system is composed of reinforced concrete shear walls within the building’s core and outrigger walls on mechanical floors at levels 6, 38 and 75. The outrigger walls engage the perimeter columns as part of this lateral system. There are no other shear walls beyond the building’s core thus enabling the architect flexibility in apartment layout design. The structural challenge of accommodating the undulating façade, as well as the differing apartment layouts has been met by ‘walking’ the columns at several locations and levels.
Digital Project 3-D BIM was utilized in the design of Beekman Tower.
Client: Forest City Ratner Companies
Architect: Gehry Partners, LLP
Status: Completed