Central Park Tower, at 1,550 feet (472 meters) and 131 stories, is New York’s tallest residential building and the second tallest in the city.

Using the latest generation advanced UltraGlaze SSG4600 structural silicone glazing sealant - the design and construction team were able to create a building with expansive glass vision areas and less metal, that delivered sweeping views across the city.

The ambitious design was made possible thanks to the unique properties of UltraGlaze SSG4600 sealant, including allowable design tensile strength of 30 psi (210 kPa), rapid primerless adhesion, high flexibility, non-flammable catalyst and unmatched tear resistance.  

The award-winning, $3 billion Central Park Tower skyscraper is home to a flagship Nordstrom Store and 179 of the city’s most desirable condominiums – including a $250m penthouse.

Completed in 2022, it’s located in Midtown Manhattan on “Billionaires Row”. The unique design by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture makes it the world’s largest cantilevered building, with a 28ft overhang on the Eastern side of the tower to maximize resident views over Central Park.  

The striking exterior façade of the Nordstrom storefront, designed by James Carpenter Design Associates and the Permasteelisa Group, features extensive glass cladding that  offers sweeping views of Manhattan and Central Park. The curtain wall façade for the upper stories features 12,000 individual glass panels for a total of 620,000 square feet of glass.

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Supertall Building – A Supertall Order

The tower’s design aimed for unrivaled views over Central Park and Manhattan, requiring curtain glass walls from street level to the skyline.  

Creating structurally glazed façades for supertall buildings becomes more challenging as the height increases due to several factors: increased wind pressures, building movement, and the desire to incorporate large glass panels to minimize sight lines and maximize owner views.  

These factors would typically require a larger silicone bite and wider mullions. Choosing the right structural glazing sealant with high strength, excellent adhesion, flexibility, and tear resistance was vital.

UltraGlaze SSG4600 structural silicone glazing sealant offers a 30 psi (210 kPa) design tensile strength, high elasticity, and best-in-class tear resistance.  

Its quick curing and rapid tensile strength build-up enabled fast fabrication and readiness for transport, boosting production efficiency and responsiveness during installation—crucial in central Manhattan. This sealant's performance was essential for the project. In a skyscraper designed for sweeping views, minimizing metal frame size was vital.

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Strength and Protection with SilPruf™ Weatherseal Sealants

From windows and curtain wall joints to punched openings, flashings, and other critical junctures, SilPruf™ Weatherseal sealants and UltraSpan™ precured silicone membranes were used throughout the building.  

These high-performance, 100% silicone-based weatherproofing sealants offered excellent adhesion and weatherability. They were used to ensure long-lasting joint strength and provide lasting protection against air and water penetration in various applications throughout construction.  

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The Results – An Award-Winning, Iconic Building

The record-breaking tower has won countless awards for its stunning design. Notably, in 2023, it won the prestigious Architecture Master Prize for Best of Best in Architectural Design. The tower also received an Honor Award in XL Architecture from AIA Chicago in 2022, highlighting its exceptional design and impact on the urban landscape. Additionally, the Nordstrom storefront at the base of the tower was honored with USGlass Magazine's 2020 Glass Project of the Year award for its innovative use of structural glass.

Building to New Heights with UltraGlaze™ SSG4600 Sealant

Push the boundaries of structural glazing and overcome the challenges of going supertall with UltraGlaze SSG4600 sealant.

A next-generation, two-part, 100% silicone-based structural glazing sealant that enables the design of attractive curtain walls with reduced metal frame support and system dimensions, UltraGlaze SSG4600 sealant is made to meet the needs of tomorrow’s glass skyscrapers.  

Find out more at https://siliconeforbuilding.com/products/ultraglaze-structural-silicone-glazing-sealants  

Project Details
‍Building Name: Central Park Tower
Project Location: 217 West 57^th Street, NY
Project Completed: 2022
‍Contractor Name: Tishman, Extell Development
‍Customer Name: Permasteelisa