Location: New York, USA.

Architect: Studio Gang.

40 Tenth Avenue is a mid-rise tower created by using solar angles to “carve” the allowable building envelope, maximizing natural daylight, fresh air, and views for all. It is a model for how inherited zoning codes can be updated to improve dense neighbourhoods and protect public space. The building’s mass is stacked toward the western edge, opening up space for a terrace on the eastern edge facing the park. The southeast and northwest corners of the building are “carved away” according to the incident angles of the sun’s rays, allowing for private terraces on many of the office levels. The 145,474 sf and 199 ft tall, 12-story building feature 27,000 sf of retail on the ground and first floor, with flexible floorplates for different tenant types and uses. The glazing system is geometrically optimized into a pattern of three-dimensional facets, with a large diamond-shaped panel tilting downward to capture direct overhead light for corner workspaces.

Photo Credit: Kris Tamburello Timothy Schenk.