Richard Meier's Murray Hill monolith makes its skyward ascent

Richard Meier’s Far East Side rental and condo tower has made significant progress since the design was unveiled last summer. New construction site photos by Field Condition reveal that the soon-to-be 42-story structure is now 11 stories above ground.

Developed by billionaire Sheldon Solow, this massive residential building is located at the intersection of First Avenue and East 39th Street, just a few blocks south of the United Nations Headquarters and a few blocks north of SHoP’s bendy Kips Bay rental, The American Copper Buildings.

Solow filed plans for this particular site, which one home to a Con Ed steam plant, back in August 2015, and tapped Meier to design the black glass-clad building the following summer.

In November last year we learned that the building’s 408 rentals would be located up to the 27th floor, and 148 condos would be above that, separated by a terrace. Amenities residents here can look forward to include a 70-foot lap pool, a game room, a fitness center, and a children’s playroom.

Though pricing hasn’t been unveiled yet, construction is presently scheduled to wrap up sometime in 2019.

Richard Meier & Partners Architects

• Construction Update: 685 First Avenue [FC]
• Behold, Richard Meier's 'Neo-Modernist' Monolith For the Far East Side [Curbed]
• Richard Meier’s Far East Side black monolith shows off its airy interiors [Curbed]
• Sheldon Solow Files Plans for 42-Story First Ave Tower [Curbed]