The Durst Organization “Tops Out” FRANK 57West
150,000-SF, 10-Story Mixed-Use Development Built by CNY Construction
(New York, N.Y., Feb. 5, 2016) The Durst Organization topped out its 10-story, mixed-use development,
FRANK 57WEST, at 600 West 58th Street in Manhattan on Friday, February 5, with a traditional
ceremony that celebrates the construction of the roof of the building’s highest occupied level. FRANK is
part of The Durst Organization’s 57 West Development that includes the 709-unit VIA opening in the
spring and the 598-unit Helena.
The 10-story, 150,000-SF mixed-use building consists of 65 rental residences as well as office and retail
space, and facilities for community use. The handsome zinc-clad building is a distinctive architectural
complement to its neighboring properties on the 57WEST residential block. Scheduled for completion at
the end of 2016, FRANK 57WEST offers residents a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and a
variety of amenities to enjoy, including a lounge, fitness center and rooftop terrace. The architect is
Studio V Architecture and the construction manager is CNY Construction (CNY).
“FRANK is the last piece of the puzzle that marks our nearly 20-year development of this block,” said
Alexander Durst, CDO of The Durst Organization. “This beautiful building will set new standards for
sustainability and livability and we are immensely proud of the work of our team and especially the trades
in reaching this milestone.”
“We’re pleased to be working with The Durst Organization on FRANK 57WEST and celebrating today
with the workers, designers, consultants and owner who worked so hard to achieve this important
milestone,” said Steve Colao, COO of CNY.
Rigorous Sustainability Standards
The Durst Organization has developed exacting sustainability performance and product requirements for
the construction of FRANK 57West. These include choice of materials and equipment that reduce the
building’s energy and water consumption; strict attention to construction materials recycling and reuse;
and implementation of environmental quality protection control plans during construction. CNY is
working closely with trade contractors to assure that requirements are met.
Topping Out
The topping out ceremony marks the final construction of the roof of the highest occupied level.
“Topping out of a new building,” according to Columbia University, School of Social Work, is a practice
that can be traced back to 700 A.D. to ancient Scandinavia at a time when Europe was covered with a vast
forest. People who inhabited the forest depended on trees for their survival and began to revere trees,
believing they held spirits. As people constructed wooden shelters from cut trees, they would take the
topmost branch from the cut tree and set it atop the roof. Later it became a fir tree on the top of a new
building or home.
(more)
Page 2/The Durst Organization “Tops Out” FRANK 57West
This workmen’s ritual migrated to England, the rest of Europe and then America, becoming a cause for
celebration. The country flag became a focal point at the turn of the 20th century, with the advent of highrise construction here in New York City. So in modern-day U.S. construction tradition, a tree or branch is
placed on the building’s highest steel beam or structural element, often with a flag attached to it.
“As part of our ceremony, we will detach the flag and a U.S. veteran will fold it in military style. The flag
will then be presented to the owner of the building,” said Ken Colao, president of CNY.
Interesting Facts about Construction
Of FRANK 57WEST
 Foundation work started at the end of March 2015, a little more than 10 months ago.
 The building and infrastructure features are specific to healthcare use with infrastructure available
to accommodate compliance to the New York Department of Health’s Article 28.
 The new building has a prefabricated boiler plant that was installed on its roof. Only a small
number of prefabricated boiler plants have been installed in the New York metropolitan area.
 The structure was built in adherence to The Durst Organization’s rigorous sustainability
standards. Sustainable building products were chosen not only for their components, but also with
the assurance that their manufacture did not harm the environment. During construction,
environmental quality protection control plans have been put in place for water, air and material
recycling and reuse.
Project Partners
Owner
Construction manager
Architect of record
Structural engineer
MEPS engineer
Geotechnical engineer
Façade and sustainability
Elevator
Waterproofing
Lighting
Marketing consultant
Security
Expediter
Commissioning
Environmental consultant
Acoustical consultant
Wayfinding
Signage
Environmental testing
Landscape architect
Technical review
Healthcare planning
Accessibility review
(more)
58 Corner LLC / The Durst
Organization, Inc.
CNY Construction
Studio V Architecture, PLLC
Desimone Consulting Engineers
Cosentini Associates, LLP
Langan Engineering & Environmental
Vidaris
VDA
Darius Toraby Architects P.C.
One Lux Studio
Nancy Packes Inc.
ESCC
JAM Consultants, Inc.
The Fulcrum Group
AKRF
Longman Lindsey
Luminant Design
LDNK
Roux Associates, Inc.
Starr Whitehouse
HOK
Mascioni & Behrmann Architecture
United Spinal Associates
Page 3/The Durst Organization “Tops Out” FRANK 57West
Foundation
Plumbing
HVAC
Electrical contractor
Façade/curtain wall/windows
Miscellaneous
Masonry
Elevators
Fire protection
Hoist/bridge/protection
Hollow metal/wood doors/
hardware
Drywall/rough carpentry
Surveying
Site safety manager
ACS-NY
Parkview P&H
Centrifugal Associates Group, LLC
Allcom Electric Corp.
Façade Technology LLC
GMC Contracting
Mastercraft Masonry
TEI Group
Pace Fire Protection
Safway Atlantic
L.I.F Industries
ACE Industries NY
Manhattan Surveying, P.C.
Infinite Consulting Corp.
About The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization, founded in 1915 by Joseph Durst, is the owner, manager and builder of 13 million square
feet of premiere Manhattan office towers and 1,950 residential rental units with 2,400 under construction. The Durst
Organization is recognized as a world leader in the development of high-performance and environmentally advanced
commercial and residential buildings. www.durst.org
About CNY
Headquartered in New York City, CNY Construction is a high performance and client-focused, family-owned
construction firm. CNY provides construction management, general contracting, advisory and design-assist services
specializing in large-scale commercial developments as construction management at risk for owners and developers.
CNY is known for its innovative and collaborative management approach and its expertise in high-rise construction,
complex renovations and build-out of sustainable and uniquely designed spaces and projects. CNY is currently
managing over $800 million of construction projects in the New York metropolitan area. The firm maintains a core
competency in hospitality, commercial, residential, mixed-use construction, institutional, interior and retail sectors.
For more information, visit www.cnygroup.com.
Contacts:
Jordan Barowitz
Vice President and
Director of External Affairs
The Durst Organization
(212) 257-6605
Terry M. Kuflik
Director of Strategic Public Relations
and Communications
CNY Group
(646) 799-8911
#
#
#