The Spiral at Hudson Yards is a distinctive and impressive 66-story office tower that has recently become a cherished part of New York City’s skyline. The building is the result of Tishman Speyer’s development and Turner Construction’s construction.
The designer, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), combined innovative uses of space, light, and live plantings. Landscaped terraces spiral around the outside of the building in a continuous path.
The Spiral offers striking views over the Hudson River as well as over NYC. Every floor in the building benefits from the view and access to its own outdoor landscaped space and double-height atriums.
Sponzilli Landscaping Group, based in Fairfield, New Jersey, handled the installation of trees, perennials, ivy, and attractive and environmentally friendly green walls. While the results are ultimately rewarding and breathtaking, the project itself was full of unique challenges and requirements.
The Spiral is on West 34th Street between Hudson Boulevard and 10th Avenue.
Architectural Features
The Spiral’s innovative architectural features and its unexpected and elaborate use of trees and plantings have attracted much attention.
“The project is designed as a sustainable and human-centric workplace. It is recognized at once by the cascading landscaped terraces and hanging gardens which create a continuous green ribbon that wraps around the facade. This namesake element introduces accessible gardens and fresh air for each office floor — an unprecedented level of greenery in a supertall skyscraper.” (link removed) (Kat Barandy, Designboom®, “’The Spiral’ opens in New York”)
BIG Announces Completion of the Spiral
In October 2023, dezeen reports, “Architecture studio BIG has announced the completion of The Spiral . . . “ (link removed) (Ellen Eberhardt, dezeen, “BIG’s first supertall skyscraper reaches completion in New York”)
Eberhardt reports BIG also makes note of the exciting terraces—specifically their impressive landscaping installation and their growth over the last two summers.
“As [the recessed openings] move upward along the building, the openings shift into terraces populated with “a landscape that has never been installed at or above 300 feet elevation in New York City”, …” (Ellen Eberhardt, dezeen, “BIG’s first supertall skyscraper reaches completion in New York”)
“As the trees and grasses, flowers and vines have taken root over the last two summers, The Spiral is slowly becoming an ascending ribbon of green wrapping around the entire silhouette of the tower–like a 1,000-foot-tall (304 metres) vine at the scale of the city’s skyline.” (Ellen Eberhardt, dezeen, “BIG’s first supertall skyscraper reaches completion in New York”)
Design and Material Details
Barandy discusses specifics about design materials and water management.
“[Design elements] include a generous ceiling height and specially selected exterior glass coating to maximize natural light intake, a water management system that collects and redistributes rainwater throughout the tiered landscaping, and materials and finishes that are sourced from sustainable and ethical suppliers. The tower’s slender proportions and use of modern materials and detailing give it a distinctive appearance among the Manhattan skyline.” (Kat Barandy, Designboom®, “’The Spiral’ opens in New York”)
Careful selection of materials add to the spiraling effect.
“A nice detail that has been incorporated with the overall glass skin is the distinction in transparency among the floor-to-ceiling panels that meet with the terraces. This makes the spiraling effect more pronounced and highlights the architectural concept of winding greenery across all four sides of the supertall from the base to the crown.” (Michael Young, New York YIMBY, “The Spiral’s Glass Façade Reaches Roof Parapet at 66 Hudson Boulevard in Hudson Yards, Manhattan”)
The Human Element
Bjarke Ingels, Bjarke Ingels Group, paid particular attention to the effect air, light and greenery would have on the tenants. ArchDaily reported on his comments regarding The Spiral’s design.
“Designed for the people that occupy it, The Spiral ensures that every floor of the tower opens up to the outdoors creating hanging gardens and cascading atria that connect the open floor plates from the ground floor to the summit into a single uninterrupted workspace. The string of terraces wrapping around the building expand the daily life of the tenants to the outside air and light.” (Karissa Rosenfield, ArchDaily, “BIG to Extend High Line Vertically with Spiral Tower”)
The Spiral Has Tenants Looking Toward the Future
“Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), The Spiral is an unprecedented work of human-centric design. Featuring a dramatic series of cascading terraces that reach every tower floor, The Spiral delivers light, fresh air, and access to outdoor space, enhancing the health and well-being of your workforce.
“For the City’s foremost industry leaders, The Spiral is the future of the workplace, a statement of ambition, and an opportunity to stage the next era of growth in the most significant new addition to the City’s skyline in years.” (The Spiral)
The Spiral Attracts Impressive Tenants
The Spiral has secured many prominent tenants.
“Several high-profile tenants have signed leases at the Spiral, anchored by Pfizer with 746,000 square feet. Other tenants include Turner Construction Company with a 13-year, 75,000-square-foot lease; Alliance Bernstein with 166,000 square feet; HSBC with more than 265,000 square feet across three podium floors; New York-Presbyterian with a 75,000-square-foot suite on the second floor; and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP with 531,000 square feet.” (Michael Young and Matt Pruznick, New York YIMBY, “The Spiral is Close to Wrapping Up Construction at 66 Hudson Boulevard in Hudson Yards, Manhattan”)
New York-Presbyterian moved their Och Spine facility to The Spiral. The relaxing outdoor spaces with their unexpected and abundant greenery will help patients relax and feel uplifted when they visit.
“The Och Spine facility will serve as a one-stop shop for spine evaluation, imaging, and treatment. This includes on-site radiology, procedure rooms, a physical therapy gym, and a collaborative space for physicians.” (Sebastian Morris, New York YIMBY, “New York-Presbyterian Inks Lease at 66 Hudson Boulevard in Hudson Yards, Manhattan”)
A Feast for the Eyes and More!
The Spiral isn’t just a feast for the eyes—it offers delicious and varied food options.
It will offer food created by renowned Michelin-starred chef, Gabriel Kreuther.
“Working alongside business partner Eben Dorros, Kreuther will manage both the 5,700-square-foot full-service restaurant and the all-day cafe which will also serve small plates with wine and specialty cocktails at night. The two street-level restaurants will overlook the scenic, four-acre Bella Abzug Park.” (Aaron Ginsburg, 6sqft New York City, “Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower”)
“In addition to Kreuther’s two new restaurants, the owners of acclaimed NYC restaurants Llama San and Llama Inn will be opening a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant on the tower’s 10th Avenue side.” (Aaron Ginsburg, 6sqft New York City, “Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower”)
Sponzilli Landscape Group is a residential and commercial landscaping contractor known for innovation, quality of work and commitment to our clients and projects in both New York City and New Jersey.
