Case Study: The Olayan Group repositions 550 Madison Avenue with Thornton Tomasetti

The Olayan Group repositions 550 Madison Avenue with Thornton Tomasetti’s 12,000-square-foot glass canopy

The Olayan Group, along with RXR Realty, faced the challenge of revitalizing the aging, landmarked 550 Madison Avenue tower into a modern workspace while reimagining its underutilized public plaza. They engaged Thornton Tomasetti to provide comprehensive structural design, façade engineering, and historic preservation services for this complex repositioning project.

Thornton Tomasetti's solution included structural upgrades throughout the tower, the creation of a new glass and steel canopy over a public garden, and the installation of a large arched opening in the lobby to connect it visually to the outdoors. The firm also designed the structural support for a massive suspended art installation. The results modernized the iconic postmodern building, achieving LEED Platinum certification and transforming the site into a vibrant, transparent, and inclusive modern workplace and public amenity for the New York City community.

The Olayan Group