The Copperđź“Ť 626 1st Ave is a pair of residential skyscrapers in Manhattan, New York, located near the United Nations Headquarters.
The architecture of the complex is elegant yet dynamic. Floor-to-ceiling glass and copper shimmering in the sunlight give the building its name, The Copper. The exterior features a patina — the greenish layer that typically covers copper statues — also known as copper carbonate.
Copper is strongly associated with New York, and not only because it is the material of the Statue of Liberty. The Woolworth Building also wears a massive copper crown. The blue-green patina can be seen in window frames, church domes, mansards, and architectural details throughout the city.
The two tall towers, rising 48 and 41 stories, are connected by a skybridge suspended 90 meters (about 300 feet) above the ground. According to the architects, nothing like this has been built in Manhattan in the past 80 years. The bridge, called the “SkyBridge,” houses a swimming pool with panoramic city views, as well as a jacuzzi and a residents’ lounge. Private outdoor terraces are located on the roof.
The project received high praise from architectural critics for favoring texture, depth, and character over an all-glass design. In 2018, The Copper was named the Best Tall Building in the Americas by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
The towers were developed by JDS Development Group and designed by SHoP Architects. The firm also designed the ultra-slender 111 West 57th Street and the skyline-defining The Brooklyn Tower, which I’ll be writing about soon on this blog.
As of February 2025, apartment prices at The Copper are as impressive as the architecture itself. Studios rent from $4,508, one-bedroom apartments from $5,600, and two-bedroom units from $7,638.
The western tower is home to the restaurant Hole in the Wall — although, unfortunately, it’s located on the ground floor rather than higher up in the building.
