Those who convert instead of demolish old buildings protect the environment and sometimes produce spectacular unique structures. Even in old skyscrapers in New York, we are creating a new lifestyle. And the technical term "refurbishing and upgrading" suddenly appears in a new, fun light.
It’s a great, unparalleled endeavor: New York City is in the process of renewing the skyscraper-dotted grounds around Penn Station in the midst of the metropolis. And not only this: The area between Sixth and Ninth Avenues from the 1960s is planned to become a showpiece of urban construction. A redesign of the entire neighborhood is underway around Penn Station. And HOCHTIEF, with its U.S. subsidiary Turner Construction Company, is playing a major role in the construction part of these changes.
Retaining part of the building’s original structure means we need smaller amounts of CO2-intensive construction materials such as steel and concrete.”
Daniel Fine, Turner Construction Company
A particularly spectacular sight here are the conversions of two skyscrapers: Penn 1 and Penn 2. The unusual aspect of this project is that the substance of the old buildings is being retained, which conserves resources. The company is simultaneously creating ultramodern buildings that have little in common with the old high-rises. Projects like these represent a trend in New York and elsewhere. That’s confirmed by Vice President and General Manager Dan Fine from Turner, who says, “Retaining part of the building’s original structure means we need smaller amounts of CO2-intensive construction materials such as steel and concrete.” Transforming old into new: HOCHTIEF is also turning inside out an aging Senate building in Berlin.
But how does one transform a colossus from the 1960s into a modern skyscraper? Penn 1 and Penn 2 in New York City are being renovated by Turner while they are occupied. Energy-efficient glass facades are being installed and some of the lower floors are being combined to provide an airier sense of space. There will also be new climate systems and elevators. In other words, throughout the Penn Station high-rises, the outer casings and interior spaces, as well as the technology hidden behind walls, are being given a modernization update.
Penn District in a nutshell
Penn Station in New York, which serves 600,000 travelers per day, is the busiest railroad station in the western hemisphere.
Penn 1 is 55 floors high and offers 232,000 square meters of space.
Penn 2 rises 31 floors, 167,000 square meters.
A public plaza with an area of 2,800 square meters, wider sidewalks, bicycle stands, sidewalk cafés, and modern facades is also being created.
We increased sustainability by conserving resources and dramatically increasing energy efficiency. Those enhancements make the building extremely attractive for tenants and building owners.”
Daniel Fine, Turner Construction Company
“We increased sustainability by conserving resources and dramatically increasing energy efficiency. Those enhancements make the building extremely attractive for tenants and building owners,” says Turner’s Fine. In many cases, the rebuild of old buildings turns out to be more financially attractive than new construction. “Buildings can remain occupied during the transformation and the construction costs of a conversion—while not always—can be less expensive.”
At the Penn towers, people can go to work, have something to eat, do sports—and then take a train home. “You don’t have to go outdoors if you don’t want to,” says Dan Fine. The new Penn District is already regarded as one of the city’s new role-model neighborhoods. That’s because it combines a modern attitude toward living and working with sustainability and aesthetics. Plus breathtaking views of Manhattan. New York’s real estate industry calls the Penn District “the new A-level standard for office buildings.”
