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520 Fifth Avenue
Rising to 1,002 feet, 520 Fifth Avenue is the tallest residential tower on Fifth Avenue and the second tallest structure on the corridor after the Empire State Building.
The supertall skyscraper features luxury condominiums, boutique office floors, a private club, and retail amenities within a vertically stacked program that reflects the historic zoning “steps” of Midtown Manhattan.
| Client | Rabina Properties, LLC |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) |
| Size | 72 Stories | 415,000 SF (38,555 SM) | 100 Units |
| Sustainability | Targeting LEED BD+C and WELL certification |
| Office: | New York |
| Completion: | 2026 |
DeSimone served as façade consultant, assisting the architect and owner with design, procurement, engineering, and testing of a custom unitized curtain wall system. A signature grid of deeply recessed arches defines the tower’s silhouette, which were initially envisioned as massive glass fiber reinforced concrete panels. However, we reengineered the concept into lightweight, curved aluminum cladding to improve constructability and eliminate the need for added steel reinforcement at slab edges—yielding significant cost and weight savings. This efficiency also contributes toward the project’s sustainability goals.
The glazed terracotta base transitions to bronze-accented aluminum on upper floors. We collaborated with overseas fabricators to meet strict certification and performance requirements and coordinated mockups to preserve the architectural depth while reducing installation risk. The result is a dynamic, high-performance façade system that upholds both aesthetic ambition and structural efficiency on one of the most prominent corners in Midtown Manhattan.
