The new buildings will also include offices, retail space along First and Western avenues, and a restaurant and a conference center along the park. The bold, timeless look of the exposed concrete frame is an important feature of all the Harbor Steps towers.
Concrete is everything - structure, wall, floor and ceiling.
All can be exposed and used to create visual strength. The dramatic first impression of the east tower at First Avenue is provided by a series of four sloping concrete transfer columns, which cantilever 20 stories of the building 5 feet out over the sidewalk. Each transfer element is comprised of essentially a triangular truss element, angled at about 24 degrees from vertical. Tension and thrust reactions from the sloped columns are resolved by massive concrete beams, which transfer the forces to the core shear walls. The tension beams utilize mechanical couplers for ensured performance.