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July 18, 2008
NY Times Building Altered Due to Climbing Trend
Architectural Record covers Forest City Ratner and The NY Times Corporation's response to being the proud owners of the tallest ladder in the world.
When the New York Times Building opened in late 2007, critics marveled at the 3-inch-diameter ceramic rods covering the façade of the 52-story skyscraper—the first glass tower with a sunscreen to be built in the United States. But last Wednesday, dozens of the trademark, and evidently climber-friendly, rods were removed just hours after the third person in five weeks attempted to scale the building. The decision was made as a safety measure to prevent future daredevils from mounting the high-rise that cost more than $1 billion to construct. Increased security in the area after the first stunt clearly was not enough to deter thrill seekers.
The 1.5-million-square-foot project was designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), based in Italy, with FXFOWLE in New York. The firms are working with The New York Times Company and its development partner, Forest City Ratner, to create measures that “will reduce and hopefully limit access to the ceramic screen of the building,” says Bernard Plattner, a partner at RPBW who oversaw the project. The New York Times Company has declined to comment on any changes to the building, although The New York Times newspaper reports that permanent glass panels will be installed to hinder access to glass canopies, which climbers have used as stepping stools to the rods.
Posted by lumi at July 18, 2008 4:29 AM