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FXCollaborative designs a skyscraper for Macy’s Manhattan flagship

Towering Above

FXCollaborative designs a skyscraper for Macy’s Manhattan flagship

Macy’s plans to build a 900-foot-tall skyscraper on top of its historic flagship store in Herald Square. (Courtesy FX Collaborative)

A new supertall is coming to New York courtesy of Macy’s Inc. New York YIMBY revealed the initial visuals for the department store chain’s 1.5-million-square-foot skyscraper, tentatively slated to be built above its historic Manhattan flagship store in Herald Square

Designed by FXCollaborative, the boxy glass building would rise atop Macy’s National Register of Historic Places-listed store, holding office space for potential tech companies and a sky lobby with 360-degree views of Midtown. The original structure, built-in 1901, was last renovated in 2014 by Kevin Kannon Architects. Studio V Architecture created a master plan to assist in the site’s regeneration. The new office tower, slated to stand over 900 feet tall, would boost the building’s status and turn it into part of one of the largest and tallest in the city. 

Interior rendering of glass-walled lobby where people sit on coaches and look at views of Empire State Building, from Macy's
The sky lobby would sit directly atop the retail space and connect visitors and workers with views of the city. (Courtesy FX Collaborative)

So far, little other information has surfaced surrounding the megaproject, but according to the Wall Street Journal, it’s clear that skyscraper is a move to diversify revenue within the company. Office real estate is becoming a big market for retailers who want foot traffic coming in or near their merchandise daily. Last October, Nordstrom’s flagship Manhattan store opened at the base of Central Park Tower on 57th Street, an Extell development designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. The luxury department store’s arrival to New York sparked a stir region-wide. 

Macy’s, which plans to close 125 department stores around the country through 2022, appears to be looking to spark the same effect. Its massive,  2,500,000-square-foot flagship location, set just steps away from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, is already a tourist hotspot and attracts crowds at all times of the year. A tower above its shopping center would not only bring more professionals to the area but also elevate the brand’s prominence on the New York skyline.

In addition to the tower’s construction, Macy’s has indicated that it will provide other improvements to the Herald Square neighborhood including subway enhancements. 

AN reached out to Macy’s for comment. 

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