REDEVELOPMENT OF FIVE MANHATTAN WEST BY REX

The $200-million redevelopment of the adjacent 450 W 33rd St. office building, to be known as Five Manhattan West, will modernize and fully integrate the 1.8-million-square-foot building through an exterior recladding and interior renovation program.

Originally designed by Davis, Brody & Associates, the 1.8-million-square-foot building—formerly named the Westyard Distribution Center—has long been criticized for its imposing form and heavy materials.

The architectural firm REX designed the redevelopment of Five Manhattan West, including a new pleated glass facade, which will create floor-to-ceiling windows on every floor, maximizing daylight penetration while reducing solar gain through geometric self-shading.

The interior program includes a redesigned lobby, upgraded and expanded elevators, and enhanced HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and other mechanical systems. New retail storefronts will provide a welcoming streetscape. The renovation is expected to be completed in 2016.

The 450 W 33rd St. building was acquired by Brookfield in 2011. It is one of only eight office buildings in Manhattan to offer more than 100,000 square feet of contiguous space on a single floor. The property's footprint stretches from W 31st St. to W 33rd St., taking up a half block between Dyer Avenue and 10th Avenue.

In addition, the numerous loading bays provide the opportunity to create a private entrance for tenants. The five-acre Manhattan West campus will also include two new premium-grade office towers, a luxury residential tower, retail and a two-acre park.

Located steps away from the High Line, it also will feature a boutique six-star hotel, health and fitness facilities, rooftop gardens, and multiple restaurants and cafes.

A team led by Bruce Mosler and Josh Kuriloff of Cushman & Wakefield is the exclusive leasing agent for office space at Manhattan West, including 450 W 33rd St. Brookfield kicked off development at Manhattan West in January, 2013, with the construction of a platform scheduled to be completed in late 2014.