February 25, 2015

A sneak peek at 529 Broadway’s terra cotta contour panels

The currently under construction 529 Broadway is a highly anticipated building, in large part because of the design’s site-specific approach to material and form. Using state-of-the-art modeling software, the design team conceived a facade system that transforms a seemingly punched opening masonry building into a glass curtain wall building. More specifically, the terra cotta elements on the Spring Street elevation will twist and dematerialize so that the facade culminates in a loft-like expression on Broadway, reflecting the openness ratio of later cast iron buildings in the district.

This boundary-pushing project is the result of a close collaboration between BKSK, digital modeling specialist Parabox, facade engineering consultant Front Inc, and several terra cotta manufacturers. Learn more about our design for 529 Broadway here.