ENG 1101: Composing Abstractions

This is a picture of the MetLife Tower with the lights on changing it view of NYC.

Ross Barnes

12/19/12

Professor Gold

The Life of A tower: The MetLife Tower

The Metropolitan Life Insurance tower also known as the met life tower is located on Madison Avenue across from Madison square garden. Designed by Napoleon Lebrun & sons it became the tallest building in the world until the completion of the Woolworth building in 1913. The tower of the building was built after the initial building. Currently the tower is being converted into the New York Edition hotel.

The Metropolitan Life tower, a fifty story building was not always the building that we see today. Today we see the met life tower and see a tall building that casts a shadow over much of New York. Once one of the tallest buildings in New York the met life building has seen its days of praise, thanks to the Architect Pierre L. Lebrun of Napoleon Lebrun & Sons. Although not much was known about Lebrun it is known that the influence in his work of the MetLife tower and his other buildings come from many abroad trips to different parts of the world. Using classical techniques in the proportions of the tower Lebrun was able to create a building with class and etiquette, which stands out from the other buildings of New York City. The feel of the building gives a historical vibe from the ornamental detail that resided in the outside details of the building. Combining this with the practical use of the space inside as office space, Lebrun can count this one as a success. The tower is almost completely identical on each side of the building; it was this uniformity that gave the building its own personality using the detailed structure that broke though the horizon of the city. Although structurally speaking the building was very similar to all other building in NYC at the time the sheer size of the building footprint and frame was enough to bring forth attention from every magazine and newspaper in the city due to the fact that the completion of this building meant the completion of the world’s tallest building. Using not so innovative but unique methods of fire proofing Lebrun encased all steel member of the structure in concrete and then packed them with wooden forms to eliminate any air space hoping to prevent any fire from leaking through.

In a look back the ornamental décor of the building was inspired by the Willard Collection. Using his extensive knowledge of the collection and the historical background gained from his father’s company LeBrun was a clear choice when it came to the designs of the MetLife tower. LeBrun indicates that the resolve of a skyscraper depends on the utilization of the many elements that take part in the ultimate creation of said building. Lebrun understood this very thing and clearly showed that through careful consideration and proper etiquette he would be able to construct a master piece that stood unchallenged for three years in history as the tallest building in the world. LeBrun justifies his sizing of the structure as being proportionate to the width of the tower. The height of the tower compared to the width of any adjacent towers reflected on the overall design of the building causing alarm for the need for the extra height pushing the building past what was never done before making it a tall building. The renovation changed the tower forever. In 1960-64 the renovation of the MetLife tower was overseen by Lloyd Morgan and Eugene V. Meroni. Changing the building was a new approach that looked at as a modernization of the building, which can only improve on the overall quality of the building itself.  

The MetLife Tower in its original construction had the spacious Madison Square Park which provided the companies with its home office complex. The park was included in the 1811 map of Manhattan over 180 years ago. Although it still exists its not the size it used to be. About two hundred and thirty nine acres was available for this park but now it’s a mere seven acres. Even though its size shrunk and became less known its history made it a place where it is rich in civic, military, social, and cultural history.

Le Bruns used many of the sites around the area like the park. By him re-organizing the ground floor and adding a two story pavilioned mansard, he was able to establish a strong symmetry in characteristics. In 1890 Metropolitan Life purchased the site at 1 Madison Avenue, then so far uptown that no office building had yet been constructed there. This eleven-story office block had a delicately carved style of Italian Renaissance motifs which changed the reveals and spandrels of windows and doorways. This new building, on its corner site opposite Madison Square Park, did much to establish Metropolitan Life in the eyes of the public.

Begun in 1952, Morgan & Meroni’s reconstruction of the home office complex or south building as it is now called, and the tower, took place in three stages.  The northeastern piece, from the tower to the corner of Park Avenue and 23rd Street, for the most part following the system of internal light courts. The southwestern portion and the tower. Business continued in the old spaces before demolition and in the new as they became accessible. The new home office is a fourteen-story, steel structure with setbacks, faced with limestone. Though conservative in its conception, Lloyd Morgan’s design draws upon aspects of the Modern.  The symmetry of the building’s mass and its window bays and entrances, as well as the tenets of the International Style.

In plan the tower retains its 75 by 85 foot construction. The fifty-story Metropolitan Life tower remains viewed in the conventional manner. Base, shaft, and capital and from within the capital rises a setback capped with a pyramid, and lantern. The tower’s new two story base works with the adjacent new home office building. A polished, light gray granite water table an extension of the new building’s wall base runs the widths of both the tower’s Madison Avenue and East 24th Street elevations and is adjacent with the tower’s limestone cladding.

Two elements characterize the tower’s four shaft elevations, the three bays of triple window openings contained within the simple corner reveals and the monumental clock faces. The shaft’s dominant vertical member is modified by the continuing projecting of window sills every second story on only the uneven stories, starting at the third story.

LeBrun’s ornamental detail is around the four monumental clock faces. The decorative pieces each contain a shell supported by a pair of reversed dolphins. The clock dials are encircled by marble wreaths of fruits and flowers, ornament which Pierre LeBrun modelled after early Italian Renaissance the Delia Robbias or Desiderio di Settignano. The dials themselves are reinforced concrete slabs, almost twenty-seven feet in diameter and faced with vitreous turquoise blue and white mosaic tile. The blue tiles create a decorative corona at the center and a border just inside the minute marks.

In a look back the ornamental décor of the building was inspired by the Willard Collection. Using his extensive knowledge of the collection and the historical background gained from his father’s company LeBrun was a clear choice when it came to the designs of the MetLife tower. LeBrun indicates that the resolve of a skyscraper depends on the utilization of the many elements that take part in the ultimate creation of said building. LeBrun understood this very thing and clearly showed that through careful consideration and proper etiquette he would be able to construct a master piece that stood unchallenged for three years in history as the tallest building in the world. LeBrun justifies his sizing of the structure as being proportionate to the width of the tower. The height of the tower compared to the width of any adjacent towers reflected on the overall design of the building causing alarm for the need for the extra height pushing the building past what was never done before making it a tall building. The renovation changed the tower forever. In 1960-64 the renovation of the MetLife tower was overseen by Lloyd Morgan and Eugene V. Meroni. Changing the building was a new approach that looked at as a modernization of the building, which can only improve on the overall quality of the building itself.

The MetLife Tower in its original construction had the spacious Madison Square Park which provided the companies with its home office complex. The park was included in the 1811 map of manhatten over 180 years ago. Although it still exists it’s not the size it used to be. About two hundred and thirty nine  acres was available for this park but now it’s a mere seven acres. Even though its size shrunk and became less known its history made it a place where it is rich in civic, military, social, and cultural history.

Le Bruns used many of the sites around the area like the park. By him re-organizing the ground floor and adding a two story pavilioned mansard, he was able to establish a strong symmetry in characteristics. In 1890 Metropolitan Life purchased the site at 1 Madison Avenue, then so far uptown that no office building had yet been constructed there. This eleven-story office block had a delicately carved style of Italian Renaissance motifs which changed the reveals and spandrels of windows and doorways. This new building, on its corner site opposite Madison Square Park, did much to establish Metropolitan Life in the eyes of the public.

Begun in 1952, Morgan & Meroni’s reconstruction of the home office complex, or south building as it is now called, and the tower, took place in three stages.  The northeastern piece, from the tower to the corner of Park Avenue and 23rd Street, for the most part following the system of internal light courts. The southwestern portion and the tower. Business continued in the old spaces before demolition and in the new as they became accessible. The new home office is a fourteen-story, steel structure with setbacks, faced with limestone. Though conservative in its conception, Lloyd Morgan’s design draws upon aspects of the Modern.  The symmetry of the building’s mass and its window bays and entrances, as well as the tenets of the International Style.

In plan the tower retains its 75 by 85 foot construction. The fifty-story Metropolitan Life tower remains viewed in the conventional manner. Base, shaft, and capital and from within the capital rises a setback capped with a pyramid, and lantern. The tower’s new two story base works with the adjacent new home office building. A polished, light gray granite water table an extension of the new building’s wall base runs the widths of both the tower’s Madison Avenue and East 24th Street elevations and is adjacent with the tower’s limestone cladding.

Two elements characterize the tower’s four shaft elevations, the three bays of triple window openings contained within the simple corner reveals and the monumental clock faces. The shaft’s dominant vertical member is modified by the continuing projecting of window sills every second story on only the uneven stories, starting at the third story.

The MetLife Building is a unique building in its construction. Using LeBrun’s designs and his innovative ideas, architects all over NYC are able to improve on his original design. Even though many taller buildings were built in place of the met life building none of them could top what LeBrun did in 1907. His designs were clearly much more advanced due to training in other countries, and they will never be forgotten.

Books:

Manhattan skyscrapers / Eric P. Nash ; photographs by Norman McGrath.- MetLife tower

Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture By John Hill

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/nyregion/hilfiger-plans-a-manhattan-hotel.html?_r=0

Williams Guerrier

Professor Gold

English Composition I

December, 11 2012

Controversy Within The Barclays Center

There are many ways in which a building or landmark can be criticized, but there are four modes of Architectural criticisms that are often used throughout all judgments that are passed. These four modes of criticisms are the historical, experiential, formal and activist criticisms.  The Barclays Center, a recently completed building in Brooklyn, NY with its completion has brought along with it some great value in being that it is a landmark for the sports society and probably contains the ability to one day become a historical landmark for a variety of other reasons. Very much controversy as well as excitement also came along with the new arena. As we may know The Barclays Center is here to serve various purposes in which all bring satisfaction to the people coming to watch all the events. The Brooklyn Nets a part of the National Basketball Association has recently been relocated to the densely populated Brooklyn area. The team is set to play in the new stadium and will allow fans coming in from many different parts of the Metropolitan area to come watch their favorite team play while also observing the brand new stadium itself and reasons to why it has been such a long project.

The Barclays Center was originally set to be opened since way back in 2006 but plans changed due to the lack of money at the time and also to claims on eminent domain, not being able to use private property for public use. Bruce Ratner part of Forest City Enterprises the original owner of the Nets since 2004 had these plans sought out for a while until these controversial issues came about and placed the project on halt for a couple of years. A $100 million bid was put up for possession of the private land which the arena was planned to be built on but until issues were resolved nothing would be able to happen. In 2009 the New York Court of Appeals came in favor of Bruce Ratner’s plan and gave him the rights to use the property for the Barclays Center. The Completion of the arena was successfully reached on January of 2012 and later on to be opened in September for the grand opening with its first concert being held by famous hip-hop artist Jay-Z.

In the beginning there were a whole lot of controversial issues concerning the area chosen for the center to be built. Downtown Atlantic Avenue also near the Flatbush area was a place many people lived and went about their daily duties. The area in which many trains such as the 2,3,4,5,B,D,N,Q,R and even the Long Island Rail Road pass through was a brilliant choice allowing people to come from basically any part of New York City to come watch as a masterpiece takes its place in society. Once the construction was ready to get started people had to move out the area, of course at first may not have left many too thrilled. The area chosen may have been great for income but still doesn’t mean there were wrongs being done as well. We all know there were in fact many tenants living in the area. A lot of them were most likely shocked to find out that they had to give up their homes. There was also a homeless shelter in the area which had to be moved probably leaving some without a place to stay for a while. The Barclays center was a very disruptive project but I guess you can say people got used to the making of a new entertainment spot. Even with having bothered many at the end people seemed to enjoy the entertainment brought by the stadium maybe even more than expected. After its completion the center appeared to be a great success in that it had its purpose and it served and continuing to serve it well. The main role it plays is to have fans comfortably and happily watch the Brooklyn Nets play and it has been doing just that. Hosting the Nets isn’t the only purpose that the Barclays Center serves. The fully up and running Barclays Center is home to The Brooklyn Nets and The New York Islanders while being a spot held for concerts and other sporting events as well. The Concert held by Jay-Z was one many people looked forward to. Its multipurpose use brings about a great deal of income for the owners and people associated with what the center produces.

According to a New York Time’s article posted on September 29, 2012, people believe the creation of the Stadium has to be one of the greatest events to take place in Brooklyn in a long time. It’s about time people in Brooklyn received a gift. Inhabitants of the Brooklyn borough believe that this move of the Nets to the Barclays Center is in fact history in the making. The Nets are said to be the first team in more than half a century to come and represent Brooklyn according to the article, and for that the Brooklyn residents are all extremely proud and excited while wondering what more is there to come. The impact this long awaited arena has on the community is one to be considered extraordinary in that for a long time there hasn’t really been anything to get the folks as excited as they are now. Though again many people had to move out from their homes, the people were still waiting for this big event to come and even described it as if they were waiting for a hurricane due to the magnitude of excitement. The attraction of cabs at the downtown area is also another plus being given by the opening of the Barclays Center. On the other hand, another article from the International Business Times showed people against the whole project blaming and criticizing Bruce Ratner for what they see him as being dishonest. According to this article Ratner promised more jobs and affordable housing to come along with the newly built arena. People weren’t seeing things as they wanted so decided to complain that the arena was just basically a waste of money and believing that they were robbed of their property. In the article one man was even mentioned to go about taking his own actions. Dan Goldstein one of the local residents decided to protest against the project by refusing to move out of his home which was on top of the newly owned property. Issues as such on the Barclays Center may just as so continue to pile up until changes are seen by the people.

The add-on of a new Arena could normally and simply be defined as a blessing for most. That of course wasn’t the case when the Barclay’s Center was completed. Some would say that the creation of the Barclays Center has become a burden upon the city in that it is just here to cause a loss of money and take up space. Others may see it as a gift. Though many things have been replaced or removed we can still see bright side of things from the arena. People come to watch their favorite teams play and that sole purpose gives us reason to believe that this new arena is truly a beautiful thing. Everything from the extravagant events being held to the sharp design of the arena can only give us New Yorkers and insight to what true succession really is. Not enough good has come to the people of Brooklyn but this new arena in town has been enough to patch up a lot of what’s missing. Reading articles and seeing pictures may show some of what is going on inside or in cause of the arena, but that isn’t enough. Although not really being a Brooklyn Nets fan and all I myself being a Brooklyn resident is looking forward to seeing up close and personal what the Barclays Center really has to offer.

WORKS CITED PAGE

• International Business Times, Article by Jeremy B. White Written September 28 2012 [http://www.ibtimes.com/activists-protest-ratner-barclays-center-opens-797461]
• The New York Times, Article by Michael Kimmelman published on October 31 2012 [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/arts/design/barclays-center-arena-and-atlantic-yards-project-in-brooklyn.html?]
• The New York Times, Article by N.R. Kleinfield published September 28, 2012 [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/nyregion/barclays-centers-opening-is-met-with-protests.html?pagewanted=all]

          

The Barclays Center construction right before its completion

Raveena Bahadur

Professor Gold

ENG 1101

December 18, 2012

Final Project Assignment- Wall Street

The financial district of New York, better known as Wall Street, has been a very popular area to tour. The buildings and symbols attract tourists to come to experience the true feel of the financial district. Wall Street is home of the New York Stock Exchange; also known as the largest Stock Exchange. Wall Street was named because of a wall literally standing and keeping away the Native Americans. Wall Street is always packed with people from all over the world. It is one of the top tourist sites.

History:

Before being known as Wall Street, a tall wall literally stood at the Southern boundary of what was then called New Amsterdam. This wall was created to keep away Native American Tribes from the Colonists. A century later it became one of the greatest trading centers of the world. Better known as the Buttonwood Agreement, this trading began with traders trading around a buttonwood tree. To make their trading a more formal association, the people began to call it the Buttonwood Agreement. This agreement was the seed that created the New York Stock Exchange. In 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as our first President of America on a balcony that overlooked the people of Wall Street. In the 1889, the Wall Street Journal was created, while in the twentieth century, Americans experienced the Stock Market Crash. There has been three Stock Market Crashes which occurred in 1929, 1987, and from October of 2007 to March of 2009.

Before Wall Street was founded, New York was a part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. There were many free Africans in New York, but it was an underground movement. When African Americans died, there was no proper burial ground for them. As a result, people buried the bodies in stacks throughout Downtown Manhattan. It is a shame that the bodies were treated so disrespectfully. Wall Street was partially built on those bodies.

There were originally two stock exchanges – the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange. However, due to hard financial times, the American Stock Exchange closed down and the New York Stock Exchange became representative of the stock business of the United States. The American Stock Exchange was only a block away from Wall Street, but now it is a barren building, closed and desolate, while the New York Stock Exchange has taken over and is now the center of attention.

Formal:

Located at 11 Wall Street is the New York Stock Exchange. Walking towards the right, you will come across Broad and Nassau Street. Between these two streets stands Wall Street. As you walk upwards, you will pass Tiffany & Co., and as you keep walking, you will come across The Museum of American Finance.

Wall Street is made up of buildings and structures. Specifically known for being the financial district, located here is The Stock Exchange. Built in 1922, this twenty-three story building was designed by Trowbridge and Livingston Architects and is located on the corner of Wall Street. Another famous building located on Wall Street is the J.P Morgan & Co. Building- it was built in 1930 and is only four stories high. It is better known as the House of Morgan and is located on 23 Wall Street. The Federal Hall, also located on Wall Street was built in the 1700’s and was the first Capitol building of the United States of America. This was the site where George Washington was inaugurated.

Symbols, such as the George Washington Statue was built in front of the Federal Hall. Here is where George Washington took the oath of being the first president of America. The location of his statue is exactly where he made his inauguration speech. The Charging Bull Statue can be found near Wall Street. This 7,000-pound bull was designed and placed in Wall Street in 1989. It represents the Bull Market, another term for our capitalist and competitive economy. Zuccotti Park is also located in the financial district. Here, people can sit and eat or relax. During the “Occupy Wall Street” protests, this park was used as a campground for the protesters. Its location is important because it is also across the street from the World Trade Center. Construction workers and stock traders alike come together in this area to eat lunch, play chess, or watch street performances while feeding pigeons.

Activist:

Wall Street is a year-round tourist attraction. Its location is near the World Trade Center and Trinity Church. So much has happened in this area, including George Washington’s inauguration, the Stock Market Crash, and the Occupy Wall Street movement. To build a gas station over this historic area is absurd. This area has been around since the 1700’s, and it has been an area for business and markets. Although there is a dearth of gas stations in Manhattan, Wall Street is not the place for it. Tourists give business to all the stores and stalls around there. With Wall Street gone, stores will lose business because the traffic of the area will decrease. Everyone will be in cars instead of walking around, and exploring Downtown Manhattan. Thus, people will be less inclined to buy something from a vendor, or to go walk into a store around that area. If you are in a car, it will be more difficult to stop and shop. In addition, Manhattan is already crowded with traffic, so putting a gas station in the area would increase the traffic and pollute the air. Walking is healthy and pollution-free. Encouraging people to walk instead of getting into cars promotes a healthy lifestyle for both the people and for the community.

Experiential:

Walking down Wall Street makes me feel like I’m standing in the middle of history. My sister went to the High School for Economics and Finance- blocks away from Wall Street. The streets are always packed with tourists and workers. Not only is it busy on the sidewalks, but also on the streets. Yellow cabs are all around as tourists need a way in getting around and so many cars and buses are around. Some buses are for tours around Manhattan. Along Wall Street, there are many stores and fast food restaurants that you can visit. Trinity Church is located at the base of Wall Street. This church was originally built in 1697. Trinity church was burnt and rebuilt about three times. Over the summer when I used to visit my sister at her high school, I would always visit Trinity Church. It is a very serene place where many people visit to sit, pray and appreciate the calmness. Outside of Trinity Church, there are many tables and chairs set up for people to have lunch or sit and relax. I found an interesting spot at the back of the church outside, where there were benches. I introduced my friends to the special spot and it became somewhat of a secret between my friends and I – this was a place that we hung out when we had free time, and it remains one of my most favorite places to go to until today.

Wall Street has been known as our financial district for years. The buildings and symbols are what make up Wall Street today. Tourists visit this area not only for the buildings around, but also for the historic meaning of this place. The history behind Wall Street is very interesting because of how it all started- with a wall literally standing to divide the Englishmen from the Native Americans.  If Wall Street were to become home to a gas station, life around the area would drastically change and people would fail to realize the beauty of the place, only seeing the area through the windows of their cars. What is now a place to admire would become more industrial and more polluted, causing environmental problems. Wall Street should remain as it is today, because it is a place where people from all over the world, rich and poor, can come together to appreciate what America has grown to be. Rich in history, the area stands today as one of the most popular places in the world.

Work Cited:

“A Brief History of Wall Street.” HistoryofWallStreet.net –. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

“History of Wall Street.” History of Wall Street. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. <http://www.hermes-press.com/wshist1.htm>

Finder, Alan. “New York Stock Exchange Considers a Move, but Not From Manhattan: New York Stock Exchange Considers a Move.” N.p., 1996. Web. 16 Dec. 2012. <http://search.proquest.com.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/109582856/abstract/13B16DE2B5F7F061255/1?accountid=28313>.

This is the Charging Bull. It represents the Bull Market, which is another term for our capitalist economy.

Here is a picture of the New York Stock Exchange, located at 11 Wall Street.

Manuel Margarito

Professor Gold

12/11/12

Central Park The Beauty of New York by Manuel Margarito

Central Park is a beautiful place to visit. It’s one of the many landmarks in New York. The park has a wonderful history. Central Park, which has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962, was designed by landscape designer and writer Frederick Law Olmsted and the English architect Calvert Vaux in 1858 after winning a design competition. They also designed Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The park was designed by men with wonderful skill and insight. The park is used today for recreational activities. This park is where New Yorkers and tourist can go to try and escape the busy life of the ever moving city.

Formal approach

The park is surrounded by beautiful skyscrapers that make the person looking up feel miniscule. as you enter the park from the 59th street side you are greeted with a pond. In this pond you can see fish and turtles. On the surface of the pond ducks swim in formation one after another. I find this to be amusing because it almost mimics the actions of people in the city. As you move along the paved winding road you may encounter dirt roads that you can follow. These roads will bring you to areas closer to the water of the pond. The park is littered with giant rocks and boulders which are said to have been brought there by the second ice age. Kids and even adults of all ages scale the huge rocks as there were a title to be granted to them, when they reach the top. If you keep walking in the North direction you will come across a big open field of grass. This is called the Great Lawn. This is where people from New York come to play or even just come to relax and soak in some sun. The park also has to baseball fields, playgrounds and two ice skating rings. The park even has its own castle. Belvedere Castle was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the late 1800s. Those are the same two Architects that designed the park itself. The castle design is a hybrid of Gothic and Romanesque styles. This castle has a great view of the park and allows you to see a full 360 degree view of the entire park. The park has a great effect on the city that surrounds it.

Historical approach
The park has such a great history to it. Central Park was not always in the Commissioners great Plan of 1811 but because of rapid growth As the city expanded, people were drawn to the few existing open spaces, mainly cemeteries, to get away from the noise and chaotic life in the city. New York needed to have a public park in order to become one of the worlds greatest cities to live in. The state finally appointed two architects. The architects which I previously mentioned are Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. There original design was called the “Greensward plan”. Central park was the first official public park in the United States of America. Frederick Olmsted said “The park was of great importance as the first real Park made in this country a democratic development of Highest significance…,” He was proud to design this park and he want to make it one of the best in the world for years to come. The park is mostly landscaped. This meaning that it was mostly created by man whether by hand or machinery to move big trees and construct bridges. Most of the stone used in the structures of central park was quarried in Manhattan. Manhattan Schist is the name of the rock. It is a metamorphic rock that is strong. Under the leadership of the Central Park Conservancy, the park’s reclamation began with modest, but highly significant first steps, addressing needs that could not be met within the existing structure and resources of the parks department. Interns were hired, and a small restoration staff to reconstruct and repair unique rustic features, undertaking horticultural projects, and removing graffiti under the broken windows premise. Currently, “Graffiti doesn’t last 24 hours in the park,” according to Conservancy president Douglas Blonsky “Blonsky 2007 op. cit” .By the early 1980s the Conservancy was engaged in design efforts and long-term restoration planning, using both its own staff and external consultants. It provided the impetus and leadership for several early restoration projects funded by the city, preparing a comprehensive plan for rebuilding the park. On completion of the planning stage in 1985, the conservancy launched its first “capital” campaign, assuming increasing responsibility for funding the park’s restoration, and full responsibility for designing, bidding, and supervising all capital projects in the park. A fact about the park is Sheep actually roamed in the park between 1860s and 1930s. The Park has a rich history and that is something no one can deny.

Experiential approach

The Park has real meaning to me. I’ve going to Central park since I was a little boy. Its that place where no mater how many times you visit it ,it makes you feel a certain way. For me that way was feeling like I belonged. Every aspect of that park made me feel like I am not confined or defined by the city I live in. The diversity of people in the city was close to the same in the park. The dirt paths would always take me on adventures when I was young. The paths were surrounded by trees that to me at the time made me feel like I was in a world of giants. Central park has so many sights to see and those sights sometimes leave you in awe. For example the first time I visited the castle I was amazed my the size of the castle and my view point from there. I felt like I was on top of the world. I recommend a visit to the beautiful park. The park may make you feel a certain way.

Activist approach

The Park is a place where kids come to play and the communities of New York tie together. It would be a horrible tragedy if the park was ever in any danger of being removed from the city. If the park was ever to be paved over for more building space it would be a major blow to New York. The park is one of the most attractive qualities the big city has to offer its residents and tourist. The park provides biodiversity to the area of Manhattan. Socially and economically no one would benefit from the removal of Central Park. The park has to act as a beacon of light where we can learn and influence pieces of nature into the real world. The surrounding community benefits from having such a big park with wonderful trees that somehow through it all provide purified air to the community. This park must never be eliminated from the world it needs to be protected from any project that would bring harm to the park or the structures it has in it. This world is to smart and has to many beautiful sites to make such a foolish decision.

Central park is such a beautiful place to visit. It has everything a person can want in a park. The park contains structures like the Belvedere Castle. The park is a place where New Yorkers can go and take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Its fun for people of all ages and sizes. The park has an unbelievable aesthetic quality. It almost feel surreal. It might be because being surrounded by trees and not enclosed by these giant skyscrapers are a lot to take in even from the most veteran Central park enthusiast .

Worked Cited page

John Emerson Todd, Frederick Law Olmsted (Boston: Twayne Publishers: Twayne’s World Leader Series)

Olmsted letter to Parke Godwin 1 August 1858. See Empire City The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/714_reg.html

“World’s Most-Visited Tourist Attractions”. Travel + Leisure by various contributors. October 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-13.

“My Backyard,” American Heritage, April/May 2006.

Stefon Gordon

Professor Gold

ENG 1101

December 18, 2012

The Woolworth Building: The Power of Nickel and Dimes

When people think about New York City the first thing that comes to mind is skyscrapers. Many people know that the city is rich in history, but not everyone knows the history of ever building. The Woolworth building is one of many building that going over looked. The buildings history, owner and architect has very interesting story. All three of them share a common story of success. The building is a reminder of their hard work and dedication.

Frank Winfield Woolworth was born on April 13. 1852. Woolworth lived in a small town of Rodman New York with is parents and Brother Charles Sumner Woolworth. At the time his family was very poor and made a living running a small farm they owned.

At a young age wool worth started working as a clerk in Augsburg Bushnell store. It was a small general store in water town. At the store he was impressed with the success of the five-cent clearance sale items. He was inspired to open up his own discount store, the first of its kind. He was the founder of F.W. Woolworth Company. It was the first five- ten cents store to be established. The store was also the first to use self service display cases. This way customer did not need the help of a sale associate to look at a product. By the 1911 F.W. Woolworth Company has five hundred eighty six stores around the United States and around the world.

Frank Winfield Woolworth died five days before his sixty seven birthdays on April 8, 1919. At the time he died he was estimated to be worth about six and a half million dollars. Woolworth was buried in Woodlawn cemetery in the Bronx.

Cass Gilbert was the architect who designed the Woolworth building. He was born on November 24, 1859. He was born in Zanesville Ohio. Cass Gilbert started his architecture career at the age of 17. He started working at the Abraham M. Radcliffe office in Minneapolis. From there he was encouraged to dive deeper into architecture. In 1878 he enrolled in the architecture program at MIT.

Cass Gilbert believed architecture should reflect historic traditions and establish a social order. He uses this theory to design all of his building and spaces. Cass would look for important historic events and uses them with in his buildings. By doing this he was one of the most profoundly influenced architecture during the first decades of the twentieth century. He took all of this positive feedback and became the first celebrity architect in America to design a skyscraper in New York City.

One of Cass Gilbert buildings is the saint, Louis art museum. It is a museum in forest park St. Louis, Missouri. The museum was built in 1904 for the world’s fair in St. Louis. The building is the main building of the Palace of Fine Arts for the exposition. Another one of his famous building is the United States Supreme Court Building. It was built in 1935, and is located in Washington D.C.

Cass Gilberts work left him as a very famous architect. May people waited to work with him, or use some of his work as an influence to their own. John Marin a well know artist for his landscapes and watercolor painting told interest in the Woolworth building after it was completed.   He painted the Woolworth building several time using different techniques. Frank Lloyd Wright also praised Gilbert for the use of lines in the building, and the use of ornamentation. Cass gilberts technique of cladding a steel frame building became the model for the decades. Many building started to use this style of construction.

The Woolworth building was designed by Cass Gilbert in 1913. The building was one of the first skyscrapers to be built in the United States. The building has fifty seven stories and is still one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States. The building is between park place and Barclay Street in low Manhattan.

The Woolworth building has a neo-gothic style and is seven hundred ninety two feet tall. The building has a similar look to a lot of gothic cathedrals so it got the nickname the cathedral of commerce. The building has a very simple layout to it. The tower portion of the building is flush to the front. It sits on a block base with a narrow court yard that allows light onto the interior parts. The façade of the building is decorated with limestone panels. On top of the tower there is a green gothic pyramid that can be seen hundreds of feet away.

The main entrance resembles a European cathedral with many symbols like salamanders and owls. The lobby is covered with marbles and has mosaic of the construction of the building covering the ceiling. One of the sculptures is of the architect Cass Gilbert holding a model of the building. Another is of the owner Frank Woolworth paying for the building in cash; thirteen and a half million. There is grand stair case leading up to the original headquarters of the lrving national bank. All of these things make the Woolworth building one of the most recognizable buildings in New York City.

On July 31, 2012 an investment group led by Alchemy Properties bought the top thirty floors of the building. The tower will be turned in to 40 luxury apartments with a five level penthouse on top. Many people are looking for apartments in that area. The investment group says that the building historic status down town “has the catch to give it an edge over its competitors. “The luxury apartments will began at three hundred fifty feet from the ground level. Each apartment will have a view of lower and midtown Manhattan. The apartment will have ceiling heights that are about eleven to fourteen feet tall. A fifty five foot long pool in the basement will be restored for the use of the people who live there. The apartment is set to sell at seven and a half million dollars for about two thousand five hundred square feet. Over the entire project will cost one hundred fifty million dollars to build the apartments and plus the sixty eight million dollars used to purchase the space. The investment group hopes that project will be completed by 2015

This building tells the story of how dimes can build an empire. Frank Winfield Woolworth had a dream to open a store that was affordable for everyone, and ended up becoming one of the richest men in history. Frank Woolworth paid off for this building in nickels and dimes. If we all follow in Woolworth foot steps we might all become wealth.

citation

Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/realestate/top-floors-of-woolworth-building-to-be-remade-as-luxury-apartments.html?_r=0

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/buttowski/

http://www.skyscraper.org/TALLEST_TOWERS/t_woolworth.htm

http://www.cassgilbertsociety.org/works/nyc-woolworth-bldg/

Books

The Skyscraper and the City: The Woolworth Building and the Making of Modern New York by Gail Fenske

Form Follows Finance: Skyscrapers and Skylines in New York and Chicago by Carol Willis

Diego Vega

Professor Gold

ENG 1101

December 18, 2012

THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH

New York is the city that features the ancient and modern architecture. The Riverside Church is one of the most important, and emblematic Baptist ancient churches established in Manhattan in 1927. The Riverside Church is remarkable in all possible ways; from the decoration and spaces inside to the contour and the structure which is strengthened by steel frames. Designed by the firm of Allen, Pelton and Collens. Henry C. Pelton and Charles Collens and conceived by John D. Rockefeller is nowadays the tallest church in The United States. Besides its beauty and the preservation of its architecture, the Riverside Church has been always characterized by the important role that it fulfills with the community. Since its initiation this church has worked as a daycare center, classroom, library and auditorium for people. In addition, The Riverside Church is very well recognized because here it was where the memorable Martin Luther King Jr. gave his biggest speeches; consequently, at the present time The Riverside Church still takes care of the needy people by making movements that help to stop immigration detentions and to help asylum seekers by giving them opportunities for a better living.

As we know the exterior of a structure is what gives you the first ideas and consequently, you are able to express your own point of view of it. My first impressions and ideas to look at the Riverside church were like to look at the immune symbol of this town. The Riverside church for instance, has a big impact in Manhattan because of its architecture and design that have been very influential to other churches around the city. I can say The Riverside church is a great example of how the church should be constructed. Moreover; the good combination between the materials in the structure (supported on its steel frame) and the contour which is composed by figures sculpted in the concentric arches that represent leading personalities of religion and philosophy. All of these components are essential for the architecture of the church and for people who have the opportunity to admire the church day by day.

In addition to this, the atmosphere in the inside of the Riverside Church seems to be magnificent in its entire splendor; the decoration and tradition do not even loss it appraised value yet. In the book “The Riverside Church” from the “Library of Congress” says that “The building, spacious enough for today’s expanded program, is beautiful as it recalls the tradition of an inspired religious yet” (pg. 17). In other words, people find the spaces of this place very comfortable in the activities, meetings, concerts, mass, etc. that is why the importance and the architectural concept of the riverside church is indubitable superior. The area that this church occupies we can say that is considerably sufficient because each part and sections that The Riverside Church possess is related with the neighboring buildings; Visualizing, one can see that there is a strong connection between this church with the outside because practically, in this zone are gathered religious and educational institutions, public packs, and the neighboring communities.

In relation with Mother Nature, The Riverside Church is perfectly well located because one can reach the Riverside Park and the Hudson River by just giving some steps away from the church. I might think that all these issues about the location where the Riverside church now is, were very well planned and analyzed before its construction; nowadays one can see the advantage that is to have a park close to this church. In my own experiences, I used to go to the riverside park after my English classes at The Riverside Church. Going to the park, I could find myself in a state of meditation and I was able to think about the things I learned during the whole day while I explored and breathed the fresh air of the trees; for me combining these two times was perfect: the time at the church and at the park because we as architects have to consider the other options that the residents of a neighborhood can have besides of a church or any other establishment.

It is very interesting that a person can have different kinds of feelings depending on the place that he or she is; the way of how a place can affect the excitements of a person; as a result, It allows this person to describe the architect’s characteristic easily and to know what the purpose of this architect was in making a structural design by being in the corresponding place. As we know, overall, a church is a place where a person feels calm, happiness, inspiration, peace, sadness, etc. all these feeling are connected with the moment, but if we look at a church as critics we will feel something different for example, a feeling of admiration and gladness this is what I feel when I look at The Riverside Church. Even watching this church from far you can notice the amazing design of what this church is made of, and feel the desire and eagerness to see more. Once you enter to The Riverside Church many types of feelings run through your body, you can feel amazement and respect toward the church because there no such beauteous and very well maintained place as The Riverside Church.

Besides, One of the other things that I found interesting is that the windows of The Riverside Church that “are a symphony of stained glass and color” (pg. 37) have a special representation that make people feel inspired and attracted by the beauty that these reflect. In the book of “The Riverside Church” the author says that “The windows are the crowning glory to the magnificent architecture of the church” (pg. 37). This means that these are not just regular windows; these are made according to the wonderful design and architecture of the church, and the meaning of these affect people in many good ways. It is noteworthy that the aisle windows relate directly to modern history, but that basically are also relate to the above principles.

The Riverside Church has a fascinating history in which there were many controversies and obstacles that would have faded the dreams of the congregation who aspired to have a church, which is nowadays The Riverside Church. Obstacles such as, “In December 21, 1989, an electric fire on the wooden scaffolding spread through the entire nave” (pg. 80). This fact caused a strain on the enthusiasm of the congregation, but it also led to these people to a challenge; the challenge to achieve the dream of building a much more wonderful church. With the passing of the years The Riverside Church became not only a church, but an essential establishment where important people gathered to discuss about difficult situation that the week people had to face at that time. Even now, The Riverside Church is still to serve the community for instance, people who have no a place to live, the church has program in which is responsible to search for a place or home-seekers for these people.

In conclusion, I personally think that the built of The Riverside Church has been to what I called a good purpose for the city and people. Its Gothic architecture beautifies the city and it is a unique symbol that represents the hard work of many people who made the dream of building one the most precious churches in the world comes true. Structurally, The Riverside Church possess the required qualities and materials to become a structure very well built; that is way The Riverside Church was designed a New York City Landmark by The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2000. Functionally, this is an example to follow and I am not talking about in still keeping the tradition alive; I am talking about the people who are part of the Riverside Church; the dedication of these people with the church to make groups and organize events that help the needy. I considered the Riverside Church a magnificent object in all its aspects; worth valuing the importance, the foundations and the new concepts that The Riverside Church has given to the world that we live now. “The beauty of proportion and perspective, of symbolism and color would speak to the soul even when the voice… is silent” Harry Emerson Fosdick in the book “The Riverside Church”.

Citation

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/realestate/20scap.html?ref=riversidechurchnyc

http://theriversidechurchny.org/about/?art

http://nymag.com/listings/attraction/the-riverside-church/

“The Riverside Church.” N.p., n.d. Web. http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-the-riverside-church-in-the-city-of-new-york/oclc/53330987

Annotated Bibliography

All the information stated in this essay was taken from the books given cordially by The Riverside Church. Books that tell the history, events and controversies occurred through the years at The Riverside Church.

Book #1: “The History of the Riverside Church in the City of New York” Peter J. Paris, John Wesley Cook, James Hudnut – Beumler, Lawrence H. Mamiya, Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, and Judith Weisenfeld with a foreword by Martin E. Marty.

Book #2: “The Riverside Church” given by the church.

Stephanie Sanchez

Professor Mathew Gold

English 1110

December 18, 2012

THE POOLS OF MEMORIES 9/11

September 11,2001, the blackest day to Americans. September 11 was the date of the terrorist attack carried out by a militant group Al- Qaeda hijacked four-passenger jet, two of those planes flew intentionally into the north and the south tower of the World Trade Center (WTC). Both towers collapsed with in two hours. Around 3000 people lost their lives and in honor of them were constructed the 9/11 memorial. The memorials are two reflecting pools build in the footprints of the towers, surrounded by a list of the victim’s names in an underground memorial space, designed by Michael Arad.

In this essay I’ll write in 4 different modes of architectural criticism which are the formal approach- In which you write about what you see. Experiential Approach- The author describes and expresses the way a building makes him/her feels.  Historical Approach – in which the author write all events historic relative with the building or structure and Activist Approach in which the author fight if a building should be preserve, modify or replace.

Historical Approach:

On, as is often noted, a warm, sunny summer Tuesday morning in the city that never sleep skyline became the front of the war.
At 8:46 a.m. American Airlines flight 11, flew into the north tower of the World Trade Center (WTC) at 9:12 a.m., United Airlines flight 175 hit the south tower and at 9:59 a.m. crumbled and fell to the ground after 56 minutes in a fire, followed by the north tower at 10:28 a.m. after burning for 102 minutes. When the north tower collapsed, debris fell on the nearby 7WTC building, damaging it and starting fires.

“In WTC 1, the fires weakened the core columns and caused the floors on the south side of the building to sag. The floors pulled the heated south perimeter columns inward, reducing their capacity to support the building above. Their neighboring columns quickly became overloaded as columns on the south wall buckled. The top section of the building tilted to the south and began its descent. The time from aircraft impact to collapse initiation was largely determined by how long it took for the fires to weaken the building core and to reach the south side of the building and weaken the perimeter columns and floors.”(About the NIST World Trade Center Investigation)

Formal Approach:

To visit the memorial pools you will need your camera and money to go to 90-west St. (corner of Albany St.) Manhattan, once you are there you have to go to the 9/11 memorial visitor center, which is a near the national September 11 memorial and museum at the World Trade Center. Those center allows visitors an opportunely to share their own /11 memories and learn about the memorial and museum through authentic artifacts and rotating exhibits. Admission is free but to joy those center is required a ticket from 9/11 memorial visitor center.

Once you are at 9/11 memorial center, next to you, you will see a little cemetery, walk straight to Church St. then make a right to Liberty St. keep walking, don’t you see the freedom tower in front of you? Right in   the front it’s the Freedom tower, the two pools and the museum. The memorial are two square waterfalls, build in the footprints of the original WTC, it includes a plaza with more than 400 swamp white oak trees.

“The memorial occupies about half of the 16-acre World Trade Center site, which is a busy place these days, with four towers in various stages of construction. It includes a plaza with more than 400 swamp white oak trees, an area that will serve as a green roof over an underground museum designed by Aedas Architects with an entrance pavilion designed by the Norwegian firm Snohetta” (Article, Architect and 9/11 Memorial Both Evolved Over the Years)

Take a look the details on the pools, every name inscribed on the bronze parapets that are being installed along the perimeters of the pools where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

“It was important to not put the names in an arrangement that looked like the pages of a ledger,” Mr. Arad said. “To the naked eye, it looks random. But to those who know, and for those who bother to learn, it is anything but.” (Constructing a Story, With 2,982 Names)

Experiential Approach:

We all know what happened that terrible day and we all feels that curiosity of visit the place where thousand of new Yorkers lost their lives.

I went to 9/11 National memorial two times and I have to say that the feelings that this place transmits are not compare. It’s unique. Once you are in Ground Zero, you will noticed the city in action, the loudly traffic, people running to get their work, others running to their lunch time, the hustle in the street, but everything change at the moment you enter to the memorial.

Instantly you feel this inner peace, calmness, and sadness. The hustle you used to hear automatically disappear, it’s like the memorial were in its own world, but no Manhattan. The sound of the cascading waterfalls creating an ideal place to pause and meditate and replete of trees making feels like you belong this spot, blocking out the noisy of the city, remember life with living form and serve as living representation of the destruction and renewal.

“It really enriches the memorial,” he said. “It allows families’ and friends’ stories to be told.” He said the “river” of names, without other identification (like age or title or company affiliation), was meant to convey simultaneously a sense of individual and collective loss.” (Constructing a Story, With 2,982 Names)

Activist Approach:

The 9/11 National Memorial a masterpiece to the history of New York.  This structure should be preserve would be irrational and incoherent to think no preserve it.

This is the sanctuary that many people visit to bring flowers to their loved whom are not with them anymore. Where people go to reflect, where people go to feel their inner calm, where people go to remember their hero.

“Andrew Wender, Sgt. Al Moscola, and Capt. Joseph Baccelliere. The court officers were in the locker room on the morning of September 11 and ran to the towers to help out. In the final minutes of the crisis, they would see firefighters sitting on the 19^thfloor of the north tower, apparently unaware that the other building had fallen”  (102 Minutes. The Untold Story Of The Fight To Survive Inside The Twin Towers)

“He saw a man standing in a window frame on a high floor in the north tower. Around him were five or six other faces, crowded into the same narrow window frame”(102 Minutes p.137)

WORKS CITED

 About the NIST World Trade Center Investigation.  11 Aug. 2011.  30 Jun. 2011 <http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps59839/lps59839/www.nist.gov/el/disasterstudies/wtc/wtc_about.cfm.htm>.

DAVID W. DUNLAP .  Constructing a Story, With 2,982 Names.  May  4, 2011.   <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/nyregion/on-911-memorial-constructing-a-story-name-by-name.html?_r=0>

Det. Greg Semendinger .  World Trade Centre collapse on 9/11 released for first time .  11 Feb. 2010 .   <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249885/new-world-trade-center-9-11-aerial-images-abc-news.html>.

Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn.  102 Minutes. The Untold Story Of The Fight To Survive Inside The twin Towers.  NEW YORK: Harper Audio , 2005.

TED LOOS.  Architect and 9/11 Memorial Both Evolved Over the Years.  1 Sept. 2011 .   <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/arts/design/how-the-911-memorial-changed-its-architect-michael-arad.html?_r=1  >.

.  National September 11 Memorial & Museum.  .   <http://www.911memorial.org >.

Franklin Rojas

Professor Gold

ENG 1101

December 18, 2012

Hearst Tower: The first New York City Landmark Of The 21st Century

The City of New York, a place we call home with many historic moments. Where we learn to adapt to the environment and make history with change. Where most of the structures of buildings are developed and becoming a landmark of New York City area. One of the most famous National Historic Landmarks located in New York City is the Hearst Tower. The Hearst Tower is a six story base of the headquarters building by the founder of William Randolph Hearst and the architect Joseph Urban. The building began being constructed in 1927 and was completed in 1928, the cost of $2 million and was 40,000 square feet. The original cast stone facade was preserved as a new design landmark site.  Hearst Tower, floats right above the original 1928 Art Deco structure, at Eighth Avenue. It was the first tower built without vertical steel beams, and the first to receive the Gold level LEED certification for environmental friendliness.

Historic approach:

William Randolph Hearst was born in San Francisco on April 29, 1863, Hearst used his wealth and privilege to build a media empire. Hearst was a founder of “yellow journalism,” that commended for his success and libeled by his enemies. A great effect that shut down Hearst was The Great Depression it took a toll on his company and his inspiration though his company.

The Hearst Tower is located at 300 west 57th street 959 8th avenue in midtown Manhattan New York. It is a 46 story building that it tries to be an apart of New York with a balance act to show its own personality with its past and future.  The structure of the building is geometrically built. The first tower in North America to use a diagonal grid construction. Structurally the tower has a triangulated form of four story tall diagram beams with its corners peeled back between the diagonals, it has the effect to show emphasizing, the tower’s vertical proportions and creating a distinctive flat smooth surface with dark shape and outline of something visible against a lighter background. The Hearst tower is known as a green building, With glass and steal that shots out the original building arch deco base. The Hearst Tower is the first “green” high rise office building completed in New York City, with a number of environmental built into the plan. The floor of the building is paved withheat conductive limestone. Plastic polymer tubing is embedded under the floor and filled with circulating water for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Rain collected on the roof is stored in a tank in the basement  for use in the cooling system, to irrigate plants and for the water sculpture in the main lobby. 85 percent of the building’s structural steel contains recycled material. The building has been designed to use 26% less energy than the minimum requirements for the city of New York.

Formal approach:

The triangular facade of the building is not just any glass framing pattern. They are actually the steel columns, the load bearing framed structure of the building. The interesting thing about them is not even one of the columns is straight The building is designed in such a fashion that not even a single column is vertical, they are all slanting, inwards and outwards alternately. Further, each triangular section accommodates 4 floors. So the columns change their leaning direction after every 4th floor. The individual floors are tied to these columns at their edges, Also, the glass and steel facade reduces the heat absorbance of the building as chemically coated glass prevents suns heat from entering the building, which a concrete or aluminum clad structure usually absorbs. This cuts the air conditioning costs of the building and reduces the overall electricity consumption by 25percent. Earlier, the structure was a six storied building. Its foundations were not strong enough to bear the weight of the multistory tower. So the architect demolished the floors on the existing structure, leaving only the limestone clad facade, to send the columns of the above lying tower down below the ground.

Activist approach:
The Hearst tower makes difference in architecture today, It can give other architects ideas on what they should start concentrating on in their work. The truth is that the building is in New York, it should show influence on architects to motivate them to creating buildings with new ideas of being green. If all buildings where design the same there wouldn’t be much change in the field of building. I say the building is a great landmark to all the people to know about the structure of the Hearst tower and the usage of recycle materials. It is really great how the building can have a great structure and being about the environment. This building is more than just an building it is the future. It is a pathway  to a new road for architects. I say if buildings were build  like this it would  become apart the cities and be the first city to be structure “green”. New York will be definitely on a new city that would make the country more exciting to come and visit to see the true of architecture. The building serve is a positive structure to its community, and city. When one building is being created for a positive cause. I believe buildings should use the method that Sir Foster used on his structure and the community, environment can enjoy it and save money. When a building is structure in this way, it should inspire all architects to start designing buildings of the same idea. but I believe that a new time of life like now is here where we are have new technology we should embrace it than letting it go to nothing.

Works Cited
Hearst Tower Biography

http://www.hearst.com/real-estate/history.php

Foster, Norman, Sir. Hearst Tower: Foster + Partners. Munich: Prestel, 2010

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx