One Vanderbilt Architecture & Engineering: From Base to Spire

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), One Vanderbilt re-sculpts Midtown’s skyline with a tapering, chamfered profile that steps back as it rises—balancing expressive form with a transit-first base.

A crystalline taper aligns view corridors around Grand Central.

Materials and Facade

• High-performance glass curtain wall with terracotta and metal accents.
• Angled planes catch light differently—most dramatic at sunrise and sunset.

Facade Highlights

Structure in Brief

• Steel framing with outrigger and truss systems for stiffness.
• Setbacks lower wind load; tuned mass and structural damping improve comfort at elevation.

Note: Structural choices enable generous interior spans for SUMMIT’s artful rooms.

Urban Integration

• New transit hall and widened sidewalks along Vanderbilt Ave improve pedestrian flow.
• Visual deference to Grand Central’s cornice lines and massing preserves key view corridors.

Photo Tip

• Best exterior angle: across 42nd St near the viaduct; blue hour reveals taper and texture.

Why It Matters

The tower blends transit-first urbanism, iconic form, and experiential public space—a model for future Midtown towers where skyline presence and street life reinforce each other.