The Torch is Set to Light Up the New York City Skyline
The iconic New York City skyline is being transformed in the 21st century. Skyscraper architects and urban developers are introducing new styles that reflect current movements and a general desire to modernize the Manhattan cityscape. The Art Deco, Beaux-Arts, Brutalist, International, and Mid-Century Modern skyscrapers of the 20th century are getting new neighbors that look different; they are sleek and slender structures adorned with glass, steel, and defining features near the top.
Located at 740 Eighth Avenue on the western edge of the Theater District, The Torch is a new supertall building announced in early 2024. Initial renderings were released a few months later, and the project broke ground shortly thereafter. With a planned height of 1,067 feet, equivalent to 325 meters, this new skyscraper would be slightly taller than the Brooklyn Tower and just a few feet lower than the 3 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, thus making it the 12th NYC tallest building.
As with many other Manhattan skyscrapers, The Torch is not the official name of the building. Like the Lipstick Building at 885 Third Avenue, the nickname calls attention to the defining architectural feature, which is a superstructure housing a 360-degree observation deck. The inspiration for the 500-foot superstructure is the torch held by the Statue of Liberty in Upper New York Bay. The aerial renderings of the project show the sections above the 50th floor spiraling upward with glass curtains and steel columns; this structure will feature staircases and elevators that provide sweeping views of the city. Multiple vantage points will accommodate sightseers who want to get a bird's eye view of the skyline, the Hudson River, and various Manhattan districts.
Hospitality is the primary zoning of the property, which is plotted to occupy an entire block, so the building will add 825 hotel rooms to Midtown, the most tourist-oriented NYC district. At a time when visitors are massively flocking to the Theater District, Broadway, and Times Square at record numbers, this project will add more tourism potential to the world's most-visited location, which gets 50 million visitors each year. The lower levels of the building are zoned for retail spaces and cafes that would serve as alternatives to Fifth Avenue, a shopping district that has become overly crowded and hectic. Beyond lodging, the entire city block will support tourism with multiple attractions.
Hotel guests will enjoy skybox VIP lounges, where they can get some of the best views of NYC. Restaurants on the upper level overlooking Billionaire's Row will also offer vantage points for sightseeing and the feeling of dining at the top of the world. Manicured urban greenery will adorn the interior of the spiral structure, which will also feature glass-floor boxes for visitors who want a floating or "walking-on-air" experience. An upper-level pool deck on a tower adjacent to the superstructure will offer an open-air rooftop lounge experience. The intended overall effect would give visitors a feeling of lounging in a futuristic urban park suspended in the air, complete with green areas, lounge spaces, and art installations.
Thrill-seeking hotel guests and visitors would have an opportunity to vertically traverse the 500 feet of the superstructure by boarding an aerial gondola attraction developed by Intamin Amusement Rides. The plans for the drop-tower ride would feature transparent tubes with an elevator mechanism and a 90-second descent experience. Intamin is the main developer of notable amusement rides such as the Harry Potter experience at Universal Studios in Florida, the Flying Aces Wing Coaster at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, and the Pantherian Giga Coaster at Kings Dominion in Virginia. Although general zoning rules in Manhattan do not generally accommodate amusement rides, this one falls under the category of an entertainment accessory similar to the SkyLift experience at the top of the Rockefeller Center, located a few blocks north.
The unique design of the project was delivered by ODA and SLCE Architects. Formerly known as Eran Chen and Associates, ODA Architecture is a premier firm that has designed some of the most iconic NYC residential projects thus far in the 21st century; they include 420 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn and 100 Norfolk Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. SLCE Architects has supervised the design of NYC landmarks such as 432 Park Avenue and the MoMA Tower. The main builder is the Extell Development Company, a firm that has been shaping the 21st-century NYC skyline with landmark projects such as One57 and the elegant Central Park Tower, both located on West 57th Street.
A report recently published by The Real Deal mentioned that Extell Development signed a letter of intent with an unnamed luxury hotel chain. The details of this potential partnership, including the specific brand, have not been disclosed. According to the report, the hotel chain would be an investor partner providing capital guarantees that would help Extell secure additional mezzanine debt for the project. A few luxury brands like Autograph, Hyatt, Marriott, and Renaissance operate more than one hotel in the Midtown District, thus making them candidates.
Other firms involved in the project include Lendlease as the general contractor, Ancora Engineering for the foundation work, and WSP for general engineering. Lendlease has been praised for the efficient work that completed Claremont Hall in Morningside Heights. Ancora has completed projects such as the Brooklyn public school at 4302 4th Avenue, which retained its historic facade design from its former days when it was an NYPD precinct. WSP was involved in the engineering of One World Trade Center, the tallest and most iconic skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. This combination of prestigious urban development firms is required for an ambitious project like 740 Eighth Avenue, which will be the first NYC skyscraper hotel with a spiral glass superstructure, a high-rise urban park, and a drop-tower amusement ride.
Public access will be one of the most important aspects of this project. Upon completion of its superstructure, the building will be one of the few supertall skyscrapers open to tourists. The drop tower will be a one-of-a-kind attraction for NYC visitors, who in the past had to travel to Coney Island or New Jersey for amusement rides. Undoubtedly, the novelty of a skyscraper inspired by the Statue of Liberty with green space high above NYC will boost tourism in the Midtown District.