THE GREY LADY ON HORIZON
Building of a new tower for New York Times, under the design
of Renzo Piano is finished. The 52-storied skyscraper has called
inconsistent reaction of critics: one rank it as one of the best high-rise buildings of Manhattan, others are dissatisfied with modest shape, third it seems too monumental and even similar to a fortress. But all are in agreement in one: Grey lady (this is the way New York Times has been called for a long time) has created the new standard of office space smoothly passing into the urban.
Piano has made glass hinged walls of a tower absolutely pellucid, using iron-poor glass. Also he has taken away a maximum of constructive parts from a building surface, so that fascinating views at New York open from within. So that such openness didnt affected the consumption of electric power of the building, the architect has dressed the construction outside in sun-protection shields from 186 000 light ceramic tubes. They do not block the view from windows, but detain up to
50 % of the solar rays which are heating up a surface of the skyscraper. Inside they are supported by the automatic system of the jalousie, also allowing to save on air-conditioning (which pits are laid in a floor of each storey). Each shield rises on altitude of six floors over a tower roof that should create an effect of thawing in air.
At level of street construction is as much as possible opened and
attractive to pedestrians. Ground floor walls also are pellucid, and through a tower lobby it is possible to see an opposite side of the street. Despite the fact that what after events on September, 11th, 2001 demands to safety of high-rise buildings have increased, Piano has refused to transform the building into a concrete bunker.
To visitors of the editorial offices that are located at bottom 28 storey, and the financial and legal firms renting offices above, nevertheless it is necessary to pass through some kind of a check point consisting of red turnstiles and orange-yellow parting walls. Further theres a small atrium where behind the glass you can see harmonious silvery birches growing among a moss. Behind them the Times Center conference hall for 378 places, solved in traditional theatrical red colors is located.
Three storey above are occupied by news department and shocking with the silence in spite of the fact that there, in an aero- sphere of
permanent haste, the next issue of the newspaper is composed. From here, thanks to high ceilings, views on a city and on trees in an atrium below open, soft illumination supplements the picture. On the majority of floors sound-proof glass rooms-cubes for negotiations are arranged.
Separate floors are connected with the next tiers by internal stairways, also spaces for informal meetings that should promote interacting
of separate divisions and employees of the newspaper are arranged
everywhere.
Renzo Piano wished to arrange a garden with water area and the viewing platform opened for all comers at the roof of a building, but this element has not been realized for safety reasons.
In a sunny day the 320-metre tower looks light grey, and its almost illusive, easy volume in a landscape of Manhattan seems a metaphor of existence of the traditional big newspaper during an epoch of prompt development of the informational production engineering. The management New York Times optimistically assures, that a skyscraper should
become home for the newspaper at least till 2107.
2. Answer the questions:
1. Who designed Grey Lady?
2. Does it include apartments?
3. What does the building similar to?
4. What kind of glass was chosen for the project?
5. What were 186 000 light ceramic tubes used for?
6. When did the demands to safety of high-rise buildings increase?
7. How many places does the Times Center conference hall
include?
8. Why wasnt a garden with water area and the viewing
platform been arranged?
