In contrast to the solid aesthetic of many urban office buildings, the 52-story New York Times Building is sheathed entirely in layers of clear glass. This transparency—revealing the activity within—embodies the paper`s mission of transmitting an unclouded, lucid report of the news to its public. The most innovative feature of the curtain wall design is an exterior veil of ceramic tubes that functions as an aesthetic device and provides critical sun shading by deflecting the sun and mitigating the solar heat gain. The unique shape of the tower floor plate allows daylight to penetrate deeply into every floor. A daylighting and shading system is programmed to use the position of the sun and inputs from an extensive sensor network to act as determinants to raise and lower shades in the New York Times Company space. The systems work in concert to ensure that the building efficiently uses natural light whenever possible. Additionally, as part of the team`s effort to enhance the indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency, The New York Times Company space incorporates the first underfloor air distribution system of its size in New York City. The tower rises from a base that covers most of the block, which is the large floor plate of the newsroom of The New York Times Company. With a split core – a technological breakthrough – the ground floor lobby is open and permeable, allowing for three entry points. Visible from the street, the building`s internal garden is a rare amenity in the city, both physically and visually for a dense neighborhood devoid of open spaces.
