One Times Square Redevelopment an ENR Global Best Project

The award-winning One Times Square redevelopment has added another accolade, this time earning an Engineering-News Record Best Project Award in the Renovation and Restoration category.

Transforming this historic, but outdated 1904 steel-framed office structure—known universally for hosting the New Year’s Eve ball drop— required far more than conventional structural renovation strategies. Located at the heart of one of the most heavily trafficked plazas in the world, the DeSimone team significantly adapted the structure to support considerable new architectural features and public spaces.

The biggest structural intervention was the addition of a dramatic 55-foot steel cantilevered viewing deck, extending from the north façade and facing the center of Times Square. A highly collaborate effort bringing together the expertise of our structural engineers, vibration analysis experts, and steel detailers, our teams fortified the original skeletal steel structure through targeted strengthening and stiffening to control movement. Existing framing members below the cantilever were incased to create a continuous load path, and new braced frames at lower levels resist the increased lateral demands.

To manage this complexity, the team relied extensively on Building Information Modeling (BIM), enabling precise structural steel detailing, enhanced interdisciplinary coordination, and early identification of constructability challenges.

Through comprehensive vibrational analyses, we determined that three tuned mass dampers (TMDs) were required to control movement. Strategically located at the far end of the 55-foot cantilever, the TMDs maximize performance and enhance occupant comfort.

The integration of the glass elevator system into the building’s structural load path represents further innovation. Rather than functioning solely to transport visitors, the elevator support structure contributes to the overall structural system, improving efficiency and reducing redundant framing. We developed a cantilevered support structure for the new glass elevator system, which carries both vertical transportation loads and façade support functions.

Advanced 3D Tekla modeling and rigorous shop drawing reviews were critical to integrating the seven-ton cantilevered steel truss system into the 120-year-old framework. Extensive field verification and tight fabrication tolerances ensured a precise, seamless fit-up between the new components and the non-standard historic shapes.

The award will be presented at the global virtual event on December 17. Visit https://www.enr.com/global-best-projects for details.

The redevelopment of One Times Square has also won a Best Project award from ENR New York, which will be presented at the awards event on November 17 (https://www.enr.com/enr-best-projects-awards/new-york), and a SEAoNY Structural Engineering Excellence award.

DeSimone Team: Managing Principal Mark Plechaty, PE, Associate Asim Khan, PE, Project Manager James Brightney, PE, Senior Associate Kurt Strobel, PE.

Project Team: Jamestown, S9 Architecture, SLCE Architects, Turner Construction Company in joint venture with Promethean Builders, AECOM Tishman, KCI, Orange County Iron Works, NYC Citywide Administrative Services, ConXtech, GERB USA