Demolition preparations are underway at 871 Seventh Avenue, the site of a 1,050-foot mixed-use supertall skyscraper in Midtown, Manhattan. Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle and developed by Extell, the 71-story structure will span 484,000 square feet and yield 130 condominium units with an average scope of 2,315 square feet, as well as a 159,000-square-foot hotel with 156 rooms. The project will also include 24,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a 55-vehicle parking garage. The skyscraper will replace the 26-story Wellington Hotel at the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 55th Street.
No finalized renderings have been revealed for the forthcoming project apart from the below diagrams, which were shared on SkyscraperPage earlier this year. The first shows its southern elevation and height relative to the 810-foot-tall CitySpire, which is located on the same city block to the northeast. Though lacking detail, the drawing appears to depict a glass curtain wall with a tight grid of mullions across the full height of the building. The second image looks south at the skyscraper’s northern profile, shown only as an outline. However, given that this side of the tower will face Central Park, it’s safe to assume it will feature floor-to-ceiling windows for the condominiums and hotel units.
871 Seventh Avenue. Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle. (Diagram credit: SkyscraperPage user NYguy)
The third drawing shows the more slender western face of the tower, illustrating its architectural height eclipsing that of One57 two blocks to the north. This image also offers a slightly more detailed preview of the façade, including what looks to be corner balconies on the final eight stories.
871 Seventh Avenue. Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle. (Diagram credit: SkyscraperPage user NYguy)
The current occupant’s retail spaces have been vacated and scaffolding is beginning to climb up the western face of the building. Workers are steadily gutting the interiors and hauling away debris through the entryway along Seventh Avenue.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
871 Seventh Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
The following ground-level floor plan details the building’s footprint, which will interlock with the southwest corner of CitySpire’s podium. Depicted are separate lobbies for residents and hotel guests, as well as a porte-cochere along West 55th Street.
871 Seventh Avenue. Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle.
Extell purchased the Wellington Hotel for $94.5 million in 2022, and originally filed plans in 2023 to construct a 27-story residential and hotel tower. The current supertall scope reflects the developer’s most recent filing with the Department of Buildings.
In conjunction with the tower’s construction, Extell is expected to make infrastructure upgrades to the nearby 50th Street subway station along Broadway, serving the 1 train. These include new ADA elevators for both platforms and a new staircase east of Broadway and north of West 51st Street.
The skyscraper’s development site is located directly above an entrance to the 57th Street subway station, which serves the N, Q, R, and W trains. A new stairwell leading to this station will be built into the southwest corner of the ground floor, as shown in the above ground floor plan.
Demolition is anticipated to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, as noted on site. A construction timeline for the new skyscraper has yet to be announced.
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This intersection was all pre-war buildings, now destroyed for more Extell boredom. These two historic buildings should have been converted to mixed-income housing, and the unit count would exceed the 130 planned condos for millionaires. This project proves everything wrong with our current housing policies.
still pining to get out of your mom’s basement with your subsidized unit in midtown.
Memo – “affordable” in NYC means one thing – subsidized – by other New Yorkers. Sorry, but what makes anyone so special that they are entitled to get subsidized rent in prime location? You want to live there, then fine. But do not expect me or fellow NYers to pay for it.
That all said, the Wellington was not great, but it added to the pre-ware Gotham city vibe of midtown. Hard to believe that such a tall building is meeting the wreckers ball (so to speak). The church / hotel building on 57th (Calvary?) was another huge loss.
I am all for new buildings, but come on . let’s save our heritage too. Extell look the far west side with nothing to save and upzone there. around Hudson Yards, but north .
You totally omit the value of the land on which this old, outmoded building stands. Do you really expect affordable apartments in such a prominent location? I have plenty of issues with how Extell does things and the mediocrity Gary builds, I assure you. But your wish for this location is simply naïve.
This area is one of the last places I would want to live or work in Manhattan. Put up all the overpriced condos you want.
Where does Extell get its financing? For there is an obvious oversupply of luxury units. Huge risk .
Yes but there is no shortage of need for billionaires to park their money. I can tell you that there are at least 4 more of these supertall towers being planned up along the park as we speak.
If Mamdani gets in I think construction will come to a screeching halt.
Nonsense, no developer I know is worried about Mamdani
you dont know any developers then.
there isn’t anyone NOT worried.
Eduardo you’re so clueless. Billionaires don’t park their money in manhattan condos which cost them too much money for HOA and tax and hassles. They’d rather put their money in stock market or CD which have beat Manhattan’s real estate market over the last 20 years or 10 years or 5 years – whatever you choose, Manhattan real estate has been a horrible choice to park asset. If at all, the rich buy real estate in CA or FL where the maintenance and property tax are lower
That is utter nonsense.
YIMBY could do a countdown of cancelled projects next, how fun!
Loss of a Great Art Deco building
This is a a “great” exemplar of Deco. Not by a long shot
Having a singular art deco design feature does not make for a “great” art deco building lets get real
It’s more than singular, and it’s a nice looking building. Will be replaced by a minimalist Extell prism.
So Extell has 3 supertalls planned, with active demolition on all three sites in Manhattan. As much as I love tall skyscrapers, it’s sad to see this handsome pre-war building being reduced to rubble. Fingers crossed Beyer Blinder Belle come up with something classy, not glassy.
It is Gary Barnett. Get reall.
Once can hope. Brooklyn Point isn’t too bad.
Brooklyn point looks good, except for that stupid bulkhead at the top that ruined the sloped crown design
Another same bore generic building. The building to be demolished so sad. Replacement of beauty for no soul just like Hudson yard, empty feeling.
The Wellington id no “beauty”.
Time to vote today New York! Head to your polling station while you can.
Beyer Blinder Belle is actually “Buy a Better Blender”.
That porte-cochère is horrendous. Certainly one way to kill active street frontage in Midtown.
The Wellington is (was) a great restrained Art Deco building that contributed to the uniform character of the neighborhood.
With REBNY’S upzoning, this will be allowed to happen all over Manhattan.
Dubai with alcohol.
The buildings being demolished are fine examples of architecture, but neither seems exceptional to the point of landmarking. If anyone is wondering just how large the market is for luxury condominiums in Manhattan, Extell is trying very hard to determine this for you. I love the existing skyline of the Carnegie and Cityspire towers. This new tower will touch the City Spire building, but what can we say? The Carnegie tower did the same thing! This is city living; great buildings have wonderful views until other buildings take them away. I’m curious about why the building lot lines are at an angle between the two sites…
Someone described buildings with a view of the park, river, etc. as “Oh say can you see” apartments.
Friends from the UK stayed there several years ago. A nice, moderately priced tourist hotel, being replaced by, to use an expression from the NYT architecture critic years ago, “highrise Schrafft’s.”
Why not design a truly spectacular building. Primo location for all to admire.
Will become an interesting block; Extell’s tower and CitySpire, at least there will be some context, not always the case with Extell’s behemoths.
Build fast-glass and metal, build w/class (520 Fifth Ave’s new residential)
I hope they can extract those Deco panels for the Museum of the City of NY or MOMA or the Skyscraper Museum. Would be better than DJT’s destruction of the metal frieze on 5th Ave where he built TT
Imagine how beautiful the existing buildings would be if they simply power washed them
Should be better than another pencil
I coukd say something about the buildings but I think I’m honestly most disappointed bt the loss of the blade sign. These used to be all over, now there’s hardly any. I hope it’s somehow preserved.
What a dank, hideous remnant of the soiled past. Please free Manhattan of this filthy pig.
Well, we’ll still have Beef Wellington..
I’m sad to see The Wellington Hotel go. I was a regular guest at The Wellington for many years and have some wonderful memories of the place.