Woolworth Building Pinnacle Penthouse

Woolworth Building Pinnacle Penthouse 3D Laser Scanning Case Study

Existing Conditions was selected to provide 3D laser scanning and construction drone services for the iconic Pinnacle Penthouse at the Woolworth Building, as the purchaser intends to restore portions of the exterior to more closely reflect the original 1913 Cas Gilbert design and finish the interior living space. With the help of Existing Conditions, this blank canvas of architectural history will be transformed into a masterpiece.

The Pinnacle Penthouse, is an iconic 5-floor residential space located at the top of the Woolworth Building, which was the tallest building in the world when it was built in 1913. The residence features a distinct copper crown, includes 9,680-square-foot of living space and a private 408 square foot observatory terrace with panoramic views of New York City. This project required reliable documentation of the existing conditions, and a variety of deliverables, including a point cloud, 2D CAD floor plans & RCPs, 3D Revit model, and drone survey for design and renovation planning.

The Pinnacle Penthouse requires immense architectural exterior structural modifications to the façade and envelope conditions. The residence required modern updates to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to infuse 21st-century luxuries into the historic space.

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Residence Features:

The Pinnacle Penthouse, recently developed by Alchemy Properties, is an iconic residence in New York. Sitting 727 feet high, this five-story home encompasses 9,680 square feet of interior space and a private 408 square foot observatory terrace. Exquisite highlights include 125 windows, 24-foot ceilings, and an in-residence private elevator.

Built in 1913, the Woolworth Building at 2 Park Place was the world’s tallest building when it was completed. Designed by architect Cass Gilbert for developer Frank Woolworth, construction on the 792-foot-tall neo-Gothic tower cost $13.5 million at the time. Besides its distinct copper crown, the building is known for its striking facade, which is made up of thousands of pieces of terracotta. Alchemy Properties recently restored the terracotta facade for $22 million.

According to Ken Horn, President of Alchemy Properties, “the apartment still needs millions of dollars’ worth of finishing and refurbishing. The home was sold to Scott Lynn, CEO of Masterworks, as an ‘unfinished white box’ -- just steel beams and unfinished interiors painted white -- which Horn says was due to Alchemy Properties knowing that any future owner would come in with ‘their own visions’ for the penthouse.”

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Equipment Utilized On Site:

Leica RTC360: Captures 2 million data points per second plus HDR images, delivering a 3D colorized point cloud with 2-6 mm accuracy in under 2 minutes per scan location.

Insta360 X3: Captured high-resolution spherical still exterior images at 72 megapixels that are impressively detailed and captured 5.7K 360° video.

DJI Mini 3: Drone Survey captured 4K HDR video with true vertical shooting and intelligent features.

Deliverables:

Point Cloud, 2D CAD Floor Plans & RCPs, TruViews, 3D Revit Model, Drone Survey, Virtual Tour.

Our client is now able to securely access, view, download, and share site data, drawings, and models via SiteMap®, a cloud-based software to facilitate collaboration, communication, and ultimately, better decision making.

3 Phases of 3D Laser Scanning:

August 2024: Building Exterior 3D laser scanning in color to capture façade and envelope for immense structural modification

September 2024: Interior Scanning Demolition: Interior renovations and modifications to MEP systems

December 2024: Interior Scanning Completion: Post-Demolition

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Existing Conditions Company Description:

With 27 years of experience, Existing Conditions is renowned for accurate as-built drawings, existing condition surveys, 3D laser scanning, and drone imaging, supporting some of the most iconic projects in the United States. Now, as part of GPRS, the nation’s leader in Intelligently Visualizing the Built World®, we can deliver additional services faster and with greater support. Wherever your project is located, trust the combined expertise of GPRS and Existing Conditions to deliver the data you need—quickly and reliably.