The structural engineer for Manhattan's 1,397-ft-tall 432 Park Avenue is pleased with the modifications to Rafael Viñoly Architects' design. The spaghetti-box shape performed poorly in wind-tunnel tests, especially regarding high wind loads and motion at the tower's top.
The design solution was to remove windows and create five horizontal slots in the building at the double-height mechanical levels, which lets wind blow through the tower, instead of around it. The openings add to "the beauty of the building by giving variety to the straight box," says Silvian Marcus, director of WSP USA Building Structures.