kids encyclopedia robot

8 Spruce Street facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
8 Spruce Street
(New York by Gehry)
8 Spruce Street (01030p).jpg
General information
Status Complete
Type Mixed-use
Architectural style Deconstructivism
Address 8 Spruce Street
Manhattan, New York City 10038
Construction started 2006
Completed 2010
Opening February 2011
Owner Forest City Ratner
Management First Service Residential
Height
Roof 870 ft (265 m)
Top floor 827 ft (252 m)
Technical details
Floor count 76
Floor area 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m2)
Design and construction
Architect Frank Gehry
Developer Forest City Ratner
Structural engineer WSP Cantor Seinuk
Main contractor Kreisler Borg Florman

8 Spruce Street, previously known as the Beekman Tower and New York by Gehry, is a 76-story skyscraper designed by architect Frank Gehry at 8 Spruce Street in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City.

8 Spruce Street is one of the tallest residential towers in the world, and it was the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere at the time of opening in February 2011. The building was developed by Forest City Ratner, designed by Frank Gehry Architects and WSP Cantor Seinuk Structural Engineers, and constructed by Kreisler Borg Florman. It contains a public elementary school owned by the Department of Education. Above that and grade-level retail, the tower contains only residential rental units. The skyscraper's structural frame is made of reinforced concrete, and form-wise it falls within the architectural style of Deconstructivism along with Aqua, a skyscraper in Chicago begun after but completed before 8 Spruce.

Location

8 Spruce Street is located between William and Nassau Streets, in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, just east of City Hall Park and south of Pace University and the Brooklyn Bridge. Immediately to the west are 150 Nassau Street and the Morse Building (140 Nassau Street). Prior to 8 Spruce Street's construction, the lot was used as parking for the NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital immediately to the east.

Design and usage

8 Spruce Street from Gold Street
As seen from Gold Street

School

The school is sheathed in reddish-tan brick, and covers 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of the first five floors of the building. It hosts over 600 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade classes. A fourth floor roof deck holds 5,000 square feet (460 m2) of outdoor play space.

Apartments

Above the elementary school is a 904-unit luxury residential tower clad in stainless steel. The apartments range from 500 square feet (46 m2) to 1,600 square feet (150 m2), and consist of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. All units are priced at market-rate, with no low or moderate income-restricted apartments. All units are rental-only; none are available for purchase.

Hospital

The building originally included space for New York Downtown Hospital next door. The hospital was allocated 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2), of parking below ground. It was never used. As of 2016, it is a commercially-operated valet parking garage.

Public space

There are public plazas on both the east and west sides of the building, one 11,000 square feet (1,000 m2) and the other somewhat smaller.

Street-level retail, totaling approximately 1,300 to 2,500 square feet (120 to 230 m2), is included as part of the project.

History

8 Spruce Street opened in February 2011.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City in 2020, about one of every five units were vacant.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: 8 Spruce Street para niños

kids search engine
8 Spruce Street Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.