The two towers — one at 40 stories tall, and one at 49 — have an unusual "bendy" structure. They look like they're leaning or veering away from each other, giving them a dynamic, warped appearance.
This rendering shows the expected reflective quality of the towers once they're newly completed. In total, the project is about 900,000 square feet of interior space, with 761 rent-only units.
It took a while to source all the copper, which ended up coming primarily from Germany, the developers said. Over 5,000 panels are being used to make up the facade.
SHoP was drawn to the "living" quality of the copper, which will tarnish and turn a distinctive green color over the course of the next few decades.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdHere's an up-close view of one of those shiny copper panels: they're about 10 feet by 6 feet.
The three-story skybridge is still very much under construction. It will house the two-story fitness center, a lounge, a lap pool, and also much of the towers' mechanical systems.
A rendering shows the completed skybridge between the two towers.
On a preview tour last week, we could see the projected location of the amenities, like this Whirlpool hot tub that will have East River views.
To construct the towers, the developers had to reroute the river to put in the foundation; this is technically "oceanfront property," said Simon Koster, a principal at JDS Development.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe finished 75-foot lap pool will look something like this. There's also going to be an outdoor infinity pool on the roof of one of the towers.
The fitness center, meanwhile, will look west towards the Empire State Building.
A climbing wall (seen on on the left in this rendering) will be an added bonus in the luxury fitness center. There will also be a yoga and pilates studio, juice and health bar, and personalized training services.
Right now, the east side of Manhattan is "playing catch up" with the luxury development on the west side, as seen in the many high-profile residential buildings that have popped up around the High Line and in Chelsea in recent years, the developers said.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdBut they're confident that the East River will soon become the "central" river, especially given the Brooklyn developments just across the water, putting the American Copper Buildings in prime location.
SHoP has a second East River project in-progress with the Domino Sugar Factory site just across the water in Brooklyn. They're also responsible for the plans of Piers 15 and 17, and the Hunter's Point South site in Queens — all New York waterfront projects.
Here's a look at the planned lounge space on the skybridge.
One further amenity: a marble-faced "hammam" with plunge pool.
The space at the base of the towers and underneath FDR Drive is being transformed into a public-access park commissioned by the City of New York, starting with Pier 15 and the East River Esplanade South.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdOver time, and especially as it gains its green patina, these buildings will definitely be a distinctive part of the Manhattan skyline.