Innovation Briefing: Making the Impossible Possible | Case Study 111 West 57th Street

WSP is by far the most prolific contributor to NYC’s Billionaires Row, serving as engineer for six of the eight supertall towers—including 111 West 57th Street. This project presented a gauntlet of issues that, taken individually, would have been considered daunting to many architects, engineers, and developers.  This program qualifies for an AIA LU HSW.

This session will:
•  Describe the constraints of a site containing a landmarked historic structure and very small footprint for new construction.
•  Discuss the economic realities necessitating high-rise construction.
•  Examine how these perceived limitations were overcome via cleverly engineered solutions, leading to a record-breaking structure—the world’s skinniest skyscraper.

Presenter:  Cynthia Liu, P.E.
Professional Engineer and Senior Vice President Cynthia Liu’s structural design accomplishments have transformed the skyline of New York City.  In her 26-year career, she has taken on highly unconventional and technically complex projects. Among her prominent projects are 845 UN Plaza, the tallest residential building when it was built, and Christian de Portzamparc’s One57 on West 57th Street, its height now surpassed by her 111 West 57th project. She will discuss innovative structural solutions for design challenges using the super-slender 111 West 57th Street as a case study.