Selene New York
The 61-story Selene residential tower designed by Foster + Partners posed complex structural challenges complicated by its location on a tight Manhattan site bound by the landmarked Seagram Building and two active subway tunnels.
To mitigate impacts to these extremely close and significant neighbors, DeSimone engineered the tower’s concrete and steel composite frame atop a deep foundation system. The team coordinated closely with MTA and adjacent property owners and conducted extensive surveying and vibration monitoring throughout excavation and construction.
| Client | RFR | Hines |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Foster + Partners |
| Size | 61 Stories | 712 feet (217 M) | 330,000 SF (30,658 SM) | 94 units |
| Sustainability | LEED Silver |
| Office: | New York |
| Completion: | 2019 |
The tower includes 94 units within 330,000 SF. Two distinct residential programs—the Lofts in the base and Tower Residences above— necessitated differing column grids. To unify them, we developed a transfer level that incorporated both mechanical equipment and amenity spaces, providing careful structural transitions without compromising residential layouts.
Due to the building’s substantial height and its slender profile, we incorporated a tuned mass damper—one of the first in a residential tower in New York City—to control lateral movement and ensure occupant comfort.
A façade of white glass panels conceals the tower’s robust engineering core, while the nine-story podium integrates wellness amenities and below-grade infrastructure. LEED Silver certified, Selene demonstrates how structural ingenuity supports sustainable, slender high-rise living in dense, historically sensitive contexts.
