Hearst Tower: New York’s first eco-friendly building
If you love architecture, here's a building you shouldn't miss in New York. Hearst Tower stands a little off the beaten path, just steps away from Times Square.
What to Know About Hearst Tower
- Some New York buildings dominate the skyline immediately—the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, Summit One Vanderbilt, and the towering 432 Park Avenue. Others are quieter, but no less interesting. Hearst Tower is one worth discovering.
- Completed in 2006 between Times Square and Columbus Circle, this building stands just 186 m (610 ft) tall. What makes it special is its design: the tower rises from a historic 1928 New York building and continues upward in a striking diamond-patterned glass facade. A technological first.
- The tower was designed by renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster. He also designed the renovation of the Old Port in Marseille, the Millau Viaduct, London’s City Hall, and the Gherkin in the City of London.
What to See Inside Hearst Tower
- Once you’ve admired the exterior, step inside. The atrium features the Icefall, a striking artwork that blurs the line between sculpture and waterfall. The water circulation system does more than decorate: it regulates humidity and waters the plants throughout the space.
- This water system is just one detail, but Hearst Tower was New York’s first building designed with sustainability in mind. The approach has since become standard practice.
- You won’t be able to venture beyond the atrium. The tower is entirely office space and houses the headquarters of Hearst Corporation, a media company that publishes Cosmopolitan and the American edition of Marie-Claire, operates radio stations and several news outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle, and owns a 20% stake in the sports network ESPN.
