February 12, 2016

NYC Nordstrom store will have unique glass waveform facade

CallisonRTKL image from Nordstrom [enlarge]

This seven-story glass facade will face West 57th Avenue in Manhattan.

On Thursday Nordstrom unveiled the exterior design of its first store in New York City.

One element that jumps out is the wavy glass facades designed by James Carpenter Design Associates of New York City. A seven-level glass waveform facade faces West 57th Avenue while another smaller one faces West 58th.

“The facades have a quality of fluidity,” said James Carpenter in a news release. “From within, you can step into the waveforms and experience the dramatic views up and down the street while simultaneously, from outside, your presence humanizes the facades.”

The 363,000-square-foot store will take up space in four buildings, with most in the Central Park Tower that is under construction by developer Extell Development Co. at 57th and Broadway. The store is expected to open in 2019.

Other parts of the store will be in the 1776 Broadway, 5 Columbus Circle and 3 Columbus Circle buildings. All interior space will connect, except at 3 Columbus Circle, which is across Broadway from the other buildings.

About 292,000 square feet of retail in the tower will be in two below-grade floors and five above. A third below-grade floor will have offices for store operations. A seven-level atrium design by Carpenter will be in the middle of the building.

5 Columbus Circle will have about 8,000 square feet of street-level retail with an entrance on Broadway that connects to the main store. That building is owned by 1790 Broadway Associates.

1776 Broadway will have four floors of retail totaling 20,000 square feet, and an entrance on 57th. That building is owned by ULM Holding Corp.

3 Columbus Circle will have 43,000 square feet of retail on three levels and two entrances. It will house the men's store. SL Green and The Moinian Group own the property.

CallisonRTKL is Nordstrom's architect.

Glass facades are being fabricated by Permasteelisa of Vittorio Veneto, Italy, and Windsor, Connecticut. Specialized glass bending is by Cricursa of Barcelona.