Richard Rogers To Design Tower That Might Get Built

The plan to plop a skyscraper on top of the Port Authority on Eighth Avenue has had many starts and stops over the years, and even though this latest building boom seemed to indicate the plan would finally move ahead, surely the sudden smackdown of the commercial real estate market has derailed the tower once again, right? Not so fast! When we last left the Port Authority sweepstakes, three architecture firms were competing for the commission, and the 42-story design by British starchitect Richard Rogers was selected by Curbed readers as the favorite. Cut to this morning, when The Real Estate linked to a report in the London-based Architects' Journal that claims Rogers' selection will be formally announced next week. The tower, to be developed by Vornado Realty Trust and a partner, is directly across the street from 11 Times Square, which has yet to sign on a tenant. But hey, the Port Authority building has the added luxury of being on top of a bus station, so maybe that'll sell those surviving hedge funds on the idea.
· Rogers wins New York tower contest [Architects' Journal via TRE]
· The Port Authority Office Tower: Meet the Contestants [Curbed]For more stories from Curbed, go to curbed.com.