Dezeen Magazine

The Spiral photographed by Paul Clemence

Six new supertall skyscrapers changing New York's skyline

Here are six supertall skyscrapers – buildings over 300 metres – that have recently completed, topped out or broken records, changing the New York skyline forever.


Central Park Tower on Billionaire's Row by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill

At 472 metres Central Park Tower, which was technically completed last year and is due to open soon, is now the second tallest building in New York.

It was also the tallest building in the world to complete in 2020 – the first time since 2014 that a supertall in the US, rather than China, took that title. The 98-floor building designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill has 179 apartments and a Nordstrom store at the bottom.

Find out more about Central Park Tower ›


The Spiral in Hudson Yards by BIG

The Spiral (top and above), a supertall skyscraper office designed by Bjarke Ingel's architecture firm BIG, topped out at 314 metres earlier this year.

Due to complete in 2024, the 65-storey tower is the 13th tallest building in New York and is named for the zig-zagging outdoor terraces that ring its reflective glass facade.

Find out more about The Spiral ›


50 Hudson Yards by Foster + Partners

50 Hudson Yards in Hudson Yards by Foster + Partners

Facebook is set to be one of the first tenants of 50 Hudson Yards, a 308-metre-high supertall skyscraper designed by Norman Foster's firm Foster + Partners for New York's Hudson Yards development.

The 58-storey building topped out earlier this year and is due to complete in 2022. The tower, which is made of concrete and steel with a glass facade, is formed of three volumes that step back as they ascend in height.

Find out more about 50 Hudson Yards ›


111 West 57th Street by SHoP Architects

111 West 57th on Billionaire's Row by SHoP

After a brief halt due to legal wrangling in 2017, architecture firm SHoP's 435-metre supertall superskinny skyscraper 111 West 57th topped out in 2019. The residential tower, which is due to complete later in 2021, is the third tallest building in New York.

The tower has a width-to-height ratio of 1:24, making it the thinnest skyscraper in the world. Located on New York's exclusive Billionaire's Row, it will contain 60 high-end condominiums.

Find out more about 111 West 57th ›


9 DeKalb in Brooklyn by SHoP

The first New York supertall skyscraper outside of Manhattan will be 9 DeKalb Avenue, a 93-storey skyscraper with a bronze-coloured facade that is currently under construction in Brooklyn.

Although it hasn't reached supertall status quite yet, the tower recently topped 220 metres, making it the tallest building in Brooklyn. When complete, the SHoP-designed building will be 325 metres tall and contain a mix of residential apartments for sale and for rent.

Find out more about 9 DeKalb  ›


One Vanderbilt in Midtown Manhattan by Kohn Pedersen Fox

The fourth-tallest building in New York, One Vanderbilt by Kohn Pedersen Fox, completed in 2020. The 427-metre supertall skyscraper rises 59 stories over Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan.

Developer SL Green Realty is now preparing to open Summit One Vanderbilt, a supertall attraction that includes an observation deck and glass-bottomed external elevators.

Find out more about One Vanderbilt ›