270 Park Avenue is set to be the new state-of-the-art global headquarters for JPMorgan Chase. The 1,388-foot (423 meter), 60-story skyscraper will be New York City’s largest all-electric tower with net zero operational emissions and exceptional indoor air quality that exceeds the highest standards in sustainability, health and wellness. It will help define the modern workplace with 21st century infrastructure, smart technology and 2.5 million square feet of flexible and collaborative space that can easily adapt to the future of work.
The new building will house up to 14,000 employees – replacing an outdated facility designed in the late 1950s for about 3,500 employees. It will offer 2.5 times more outdoor space on the ground level of Park and Madison Avenues, featuring wider sidewalks and a large public plaza on Madison Avenue with natural green space and other amenities geared toward the residents, workers and visitors who frequent the neighborhood on a daily basis.
The concept for the new design was to create a timeless addition to Park Avenue, which celebrates the city’s iconic architectural history and serves as a powerful new symbol for the next generation of office towers in New York. Using a state-of-the-art structural system to negotiate the site constraints below and at ground level, the innovative fan-column structure and triangular bracing allow the building to touch the ground lightly across the entire block. By lifting the building about 80 feet (24 meters) off the ground, it extends the viewpoint from the Park Avenue entrance through to Madison Avenue.
270 Park Avenue will be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy sourced from a New York State hydroelectric plant. In addition to operating on net zero carbon emissions, the building will use state-of-the-art building technology and systems to ensure it operates as efficiently as possible, including intelligent building technology that uses sensors, AI and machine learning systems to predict, respond and adapt to energy needs; advanced water storage and reuse systems to reduce water usage by more than 40 per cent; triple pane glazing on the façade and automatic solar shades connected to HVAC systems for greater energy efficiency; and outdoor terraces featuring natural green space and plantings.
The project also recycled, reused or upcycled 97% of the building materials from the demolition – far exceeding the 75% requirement of the leading green building standard.