Best New Skyscraper of 2006 Stands in New York City

The Emporis “Best New Skyscraper of the Year Award” was presented last week to New York City’s Hearst Tower, designed by Foster & Partners, London, with Gensler’s New York office. The 46-story, 856,000-square-foot Midtown structure is defined by vertical and horizontal energy-saving, diamond-shaped bands of bright stainless steel. The owner and developer of Hearst Tower is the Hearst Corporation, which now uses the building as its world headquarters. The $500 million Hearst Tower occupies the shell of the original six-story Hearst edifice, designed in 1928 by Joseph Urban and George B. Post & Sons. The building was selected by Emporis, an international building information company, from a worldwide pool of 467 eligible skyscrapers (defined as at least 100 meters tall) completed last year. A jury of Emporis senior editors votes at the end of each year, ranking the top new skyscrapers according to their perceived merits in design and functionality. Hearst Tower, with its LEED® Gold Rating, took high marks in the sustainability arena.