The September issue of Modern Steel Construction features an article by Sam Barrett from Walters Group and Barry Charnish, founding principal of Entuitive. They describe how their companies contributed to the revitalization of a commercial building on Manhattan’s West Side. The project involved uncovering old steel and adding new steel to expand the building upward.

Originally built in 1934, the four-story structure at 550 Washington Street was the St. John’s Terminal and storage building for a freight line railway that serviced the docks by the West Side Highway area. The building is located on the Hudson River, north of the Holland Tunnel. The new eight-story (plus mechanical penthouse) 1,000,000-sq.-ft addition nearly tripled the building’s height. Additionally, the building’s footprint was reduced to approximately 250 ft by 500 ft, with a bridge over Houston Street and the north parcel being demolished to open the street near the entry and allow for future residential development.

The updated building now serves as the New York headquarters of a prominent technology company. It features green rooftops and open terraces with views across the Hudson River and of the Manhattan skyline.

The article highlights the challenges the teams faced while navigating the site and updating existing structural elements. It also explains how the teams successfully brought new life into 550 Washington Street.

Click the link to learn more about this impressive project. aisc.org/modernsteel