New York architects ditch “default” glass facades for brick, stone and copper

When it comes to designing towers, architects in New York are moving away from using glass in favor of more solid-looking materials such as concrete, copper, and stone. Glass has dominated the skyscraper scene in New York for many years, with the World Trade Center, Times Square, and Hudson Yards, few of many examples of the lasting trend. According to John Cetra from CetraRuddy and Gregg Pasquarelli from SHoP Architects, this trend, however, is going out of style. A series of new developments and proposals show a newfound revival of traditional building materials, particularly those used in New York’s golden age during the early 20th century. While the first buildings made entirely of glass were unlike anything New Yorkers had ever seen before, architects are now becoming more conscious of how their designs fit into the immediate surroundings and city’s broader architectural history. The American Copper Buildings, designed by SHoP Architects, is one of the projects that embraces the traditional use of metal. Copper covers most of the two towers connected by a skybridge. The color of the copper façade will change from a reddish brown to a green over time, slowly aging with grace.

by Emily Gibson
May 4, 2018
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