645 Fifth Wins Natural Stone Institute’s Tucker Design Award
“A modern and refined use of stone to activate a long, narrow, multi-story space. ”
MdeAS is thrilled to announce that our design for 645 Fifth Avenue, Olympic Tower, was selected as a Natural Stone Institute Pinnacle Award winner. This project involved innovative thinking, natural materials, and collaboration. Learn more about the project below.
Through the use of stone, Olympic Tower’s public space was transformed from passageway to a destination worthy of its Fifth Avenue location. Home to commercial and office space, including the NBA headquarters, Olympic Tower was one of the first mixed-zoning, high-rise buildings in New York City. Since its establishment, the building has undergone several unbefitting renovations, leaving the lobby and public areas overlaid in dark granite. Inspired by the client’s goal for increased visibility and openness, our team designed a lighter, more welcoming environment by incorporating Italian and Portuguese stone that emphasizes simplicity while creating a powerful aesthetic statement.
In the context of New York City, 645 Fifth is privy to a one of kind view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. With immediate proximity to this iconic architectural landmark, the 51st Street entrance becomes a direct connection to the urban environment further established by the use of stone, evoking a visual interest in tenants and tourists alike. The lobby design features a collection of program elements - art, seating, landscape, circadian lighting and a café - required to create a dynamic public space. In doing so, we drew inspiration from 645 Fifth’s past. Clad in limestone, the feature wall preserves the engaging element previously supplied by the Greek reliefs by integrating a faceted, structural wall that adds a variety of angles and unique focal points to the lobby.
Challenged with supporting 200,000 pounds of stone onto the building structure without loading on the floor, the design team created a truss system to allow for a seamless installation process. Because of the variety of shapes and program elements, the steel truss was not uniform, yet it had to carry a consistent load. Independent from the superstructure, the structural system transfers the load directly to the building, supporting the weight of the stone without adding any additional loads.
Mocha Crème limestone clads the walls and replaces the dark granite. The light stone was extracted from a quarry in Lisbon, Portugal and was selected for its warmth and understated, yet consistent veining. The wall achieved its dimensional appearance through a design that is as precise as it is unique, a contemporary approach to manufacturing that tests the limits of today’s technologies. Each slab is fabricated with a 5 axis (X, Y, Z of the linear plan while simultaneously rotating on the A and B axis, sculpting the stone from all angles) CNC machine (computer numeric control). The stone was then meticulously sanded by hand to accomplish the delicate and intricate details.
The Basaltite floor is activated with White Caldia Marble inserts, creating a path reminiscent of the ancient Stoas. Extracted from a quarry in Carrara Feire, Italy, the Basaltite was selected for its durability and density which allowed for oversized panels needed to achieve the layout we desired . The marble flooring complements the beige walls and becomes the base plane for a harmonious composition, tying together the space.
Differentiating itself from other New York City lobbies, Olympic Tower’s design is highlighted by the use of beautiful limestone and marble. 645 Fifth is a transitory, passageway from one point to another, and a signature public space that emphasizes comfort and flexibility, where one can socialize, work, or take the time to make a mindful transition in-between. Through the application of distinct stone, conscious spatial planning, a revitalized street presence and unique architectural details, 645 Fifth is no longer a through-block atrium, but a Midtown destination.
