ABSTRACT
The Hearst Tower in central Manhattan is of interest for the way it incorporates a large degree of existing historic fabric which is retained as a substantial sculpted concrete base to the forty-six-storey tower. It also shows the importance of adaptation of buildings to sustainability. The project was to create a new headquarters building for the Hearst Corporation, which is one of the world’s foremost publishing houses. The appointment of Foster + Partners in 2001 led to the decision to use a triangular framed steel structure (known as a triagrid) immediately above the six-storey podium built in 1928 to designs by Joseph Urban. In fact, Urban’s art deco design anticipated a skyscraper of smaller dimensions, but the cost at the time ($2 million) and the Great Depression put paid to the plans.
