Snøhetta has presented a project to overhaul an iconic postmodern 1984 structure, New York's Sony Building, formerly known as the AT&T Building. The reconstruction will only affect the base, the rest of the building (including the famous Chippendale pediment) will remain intact. The architects propose replacing the facade with what they say is more lively and friendly, expanding and greening the adjacent space, extending the "active" part of 550 Madison Avenue further south, up to 55th Street. This is the first major project to be presented to the public since the New York City council approved the revitalization of Midtown Manhattan.
The AT&T tower (197 m) was designed by the architect Philip Johnson as the headquarters for the telecommunications company of the same name. In the 1990s, Sony moved into the building, and at the beginning of the 2000s, it bought it out entirely. From the very beginning, the area near AT&T was not very attractive and comfortable, according to the architects of Snøhetta. The situation was aggravated by a series of renovations that were carried out on the ground floor, which made the building virtually hidden from passers-by. Today it is completely empty: Sony Corporation left 550 Madison Avenue a year and a half ago.
According to the new project, the adjacent territory will almost double, and a garden will appear here. The stone-clad façade will be partially replaced by a translucent “scalloped” structure that will expose a “multi-storey” arched entrance and steel support elements. The undulating facade is a reference to the fluted columns; this is how architects re-interpret the monumentality of the building and create a recognizable image for it. After the reconstruction, the premises will be occupied by offices, shops and restaurants. “With this increased transparency, everything in the lobby, atrium and first two floors of the building will become part of the vibrating energy of the streets,” the architects said in a statement.
A displacement ventilation system will be installed in the building
DOAS, which will provide its inhabitants with continuous access to clean air, while consuming less energy compared to the VAV system. The authors of the project expect that the renovated skyscraper will be able to receive a "gold" LEED energy efficiency certificate, a WELL certificate for creating a healthy environment, and a Wired certificate for digital communications.
Note that the project also found opponents: some are collecting signatures against the restructuring of the New York landmark, others are speaking on Twitter using the hashtag #saveatt ("to save AT & T"). Oliver Wainwright, an architecture critic for Britain's The Guardian, called Snøhetta's proposal "vandalism." And in early November, architects and heritage defenders took to the streets with placards, protesting against the upcoming reconstruction. Even Norman Foster supported the campaign: he advertised the campaign on his Instagram, but was unable to participate himself. The British architect stressed that he never felt sympathy for the "fleeting postmodern movement", but considers the former AT & T building to be an important part of the legacy.
