Norman Foster designed the Hearst Tower in Manhattan, which incorporated the original 1920s facade into a new 46-story skyscraper. To preserve the landmark facade and allow for an open floor plan, Foster used an asymmetrical diagrid structural system on the building's perimeter. This efficient design saved on materials while providing strength and redundancy against extreme loads. The Hearst Tower also achieved sustainability through landscape design, stormwater management, and reuse of the original structure's materials.

1. HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURE
AR. NORMAN FOSTER’S
HEARTH TOWER,
MANHATTAN, NYC.

2. ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
'‘A BALANCING ACT OF INTEGRATING
AND SOMEHOW RESPONDING TO ALL
THE NEEDS OF A PROJECT: MATERIAL
AND MEASURABLE; AS WELL AS THE
SPIRITUAL AND INTANGIBLE, THE
SUBJECTIVE; IT IS SOMEHOW MAKING
ALL THOSE VALUE JUDGEMENTS.''
-NAME: AR. NORMAN FOSTER.
-BORN: 1ST JUNE 1935, STOCKPORT,
ENGLAND.
-NATIONALITY: BRITISH
-OCCUPATION: ARCHITECT
-AWARDS: PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE
PRIZE, STIRLING PRIZE, PRINCE OF
ASTURIAS AWARD, AIA GOLD MEDAL.
-BUILDINGS: 30 ST. MARY AXE,
LONDON; WILLIS FABER AND DUMAS
HEADQUARTERS, IPSWICH; WEMBLEY
STADIUM
“AS AN ARCHITECT, YOU DESIGN FOR
THE PRESENT, WITH AN AWARENESS OF
THE PAST, FOR A FUTURE, WHICH IS
ESSENTIALLY UNKNOWN.”

3. ABOUT THE TOWER {BACKGROUND}
OLD SKYSCRAPER
NEW SKYSCRAPER
ADDITION OF A
NEW STRUCTURE
• IT WAS A 6-STOREY STONE FACADE DESIGNED BY AR. JOSEPH URBAN AS THE HEADQUARTERS
FOR THE HEARST CORPORATION.
• BUILDING WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO SERVE AS THE BASE FOR A SKYSCRAPER EXPANSION IN
THE 1920’s, BUT, THE GREAT DEPRESSION PERIOD FINANCIALLY HALTED THE CONSTRUCTION FOR
80 YEARS.
• BEING THE TALLEST SKYSCRAPER ERECTED AFTER 9/11, THE NEW HEARST TOWER HAD TO SERVE
AS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF BUSINESS PROGRESSION IN THE POST WORLD WAR PERIOD.
IN 2001, THE HEARST CORPORATION DECIDED TO CONSOLIDATE THE OFFICES IT
RENTS FOR NEARLY 2000 EMPLOYEES INTO A NEW 46 STOREY BUILDING.

4. ABOUT THE TOWER {DESIGN CONCEPT}
PRESERVING NEW YORK’S HERITAGE- THE LANDMARK FACADE
• AN IMPORTANT DESIGN SPECIFICATION
WAS THE PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING
LANDMARK FACADE AND ITS
INCORPORATION INTO THE NEW TOWER
DESIGN.
• HEARST’S ORIGINAL INTENTION FOR THIS
BUILDING WAS TO PROVIDE A HIGH
QUALITY WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR HIS
EMPLOYEES.
• THE BUILDING TRUELY SEEMS
CELEBRATING THE MARRIAGE OF THE OLD
AND THE NEW TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE.

5. ABOUT THE TOWER {BUILDING LAYOUT}
• THE 3 SIDES OF THE BUILDING FACES THE STREET AND THE VIEWS.
• THE WEST SIDE IS AGAINST ANOTHER BUILDING; SO THE CORE WAS SHIFTED TOWARDS THE WESTERN
EDGE.
• THE OFFICE ZONE STARTS AT 110 FT. ABOVE THE STREET LEVEL I.E. FROM THE 10TH FLOOR TO THE TOP
OF THE BUILDING.
• COMPOSITE STEEL AND CONCRETE FLOORS WITH 40 FT. INTERIOR COLUMN FREE SPANS WERE
UTILIZED FOR OPEN OFFICE PLANNING.
NORTH

6. ABOUT THE TOWER {BUILDING LAYOUT}
• ORIGINAL BUILDING HAS AN
APPROXIMATE FOOTPRINT OF
(200x200) FT.
• HAS 2 DISTINCT ZONES:
1) ZONE BELOW 10TH
FLOOR CONTAINS ENTRANCE AT
STREET LEVEL, LOBBY AND
CAFETERIA.
• 2) AUDITORIUM AT THE
3RF FLOOR WITH AN APPROXIMATE
80 FT. HIGH INTERIOR OPEN SPACE.
• THE TOWER IS CONNECTED TO THE
EXISTING LANDMARK FACADE AT
THE 7TH LEVEL BY THE HORIZONTAL
SKYLIGHT SYSTEM SPANING
APPROXIMATELY 40 FT.

7. ABOUT THE TOWER {SECTION}
NEW
STRUCTURE
CLERESTOREY
EXISTING
STRUCTURE
SECTIONS

8. ABOUT THE TOWER {SECTIONAL ELEVATION}

9. ABOUT THE TOWER {SECTION}
FIRST
TO
TENTH
FLOOR
STRUCTURE

10. ABOUT THE TOWER {DIAGRID SYSTEM}

11. ABOUT THE TOWER {DIAGRID SYSTEM}
FREE FORM
Since the west side of the building is close
to another skyscraper, the service core
was put at the west side. As a result, the
eastern edge of the building couldn’t be
reinforced by a central core. In order to
eliminate the structural disadvantage of
this unsymmetrical form, the structures on
the perimeter were designed as diagrid
system. The diagrid structural system can
provide sufficient support for the building
facade to resist lateral forces.
EFFICIENCY
Another reason for using a diagrid on the
perimeter is that it is more efficient than
the moment frame system. The complete
diagrid system saved 20% of steel
material.
REDUNDANCY
In order to prevent collapsing and to
withstand extreme loading events, such
as blasts, earthquakes, or unexpectedly
large loads.

12. ABOUT THE TOWER {DIAGRID SYSTEM}

13. ABOUT THE TOWER {DIAGRID SYSTEM}
NODE

14. ABOUT THE TOWER {LOAD TRACING}
GRAVITY
LOAD
POINT
LOAD
WIND
LOAD

15. ABOUT THE TOWER {COLUMNS}
Y-JOINTS DIAONALS

16. ABOUT THE TOWER {SUSTAINABILITY}
GUJYU
• INNOVATIVE LANDSCAPE AND
EXTERIOR DESIGN INCREASES BUILDING
EFFICIENCY BY 26%.
• EFFECTIVE STORM WATER
MANAGEMENT REDUCES THE AMOUNT
OF RAINEWATER DUMPING INTO NYC’S
SEWER SYSTEM BY 30%.
• 85% OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS
RECYCLED FOR THE FUTURE BUILDING.
• ORIGINAL CAST STONE FACADE IS
RESTORED. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
WERE CHOSEN WITH NO HARMFUL
CHEMICALS AND MANUFACYURED WITH
RECYCLED CONTENT.

17. THANK YOU 
PRESENTED BY:
ROMA ROCHWANI
THIRD YEAR ARCHITECTURE
309119
GUIDED BY:
PROF. JAIKISHOR PANDIT.