One Vanderbilt to rise as NYC’s second tallest tower, breaks ground

In the past week,a time-lapse videowas releasedshowing an entire Midtown block being demolished to make way for the 1,401-foot supertallOne Vanderbilt.

Now with a clearedsite—plus$1.5 billion in construction financingsecured—SL Greenis ready to build anew, and Tuesday morning thedeveloper held an official groundbreaking ceremony to mark the momentous occasion.

Designed by the tall-tower pros atKohn Pedersen Fox Architects, One Vanderbilt will rise to become the second tallest tower in NYC and the tallest tower in Midtown. However,unlike the city’s other skyscraperadditionsnoted for their slim silhouettes, this tower will be a behemoth occupying a full block between Vanderbilt and Madison avenues and East 42nd and East 43rd streets; the site is alsodirectly adjacent toGrand Central Terminal.

The tower will not onlyadd 1.6 million square feet of modern office space to Midtown East, butadditionallyhost the city’s largest floor-to-ceiling windows and completely column-free floorplates, according to SL Green.

The project is also bringing with it $220 millionworthinfrastructure improvements, including directsubway access from the building, new transit entrances, retail space and public spaces.