Hours after his 4 World Trade Center topped off in the rain yesterday morning, Larry Silverstein sounded full of sunshine.
Confident his beautiful 72-story office tower raised at warp speed by Tishman Construction would soon land commercial tenants, he was also thrilled at belated appreciation for its eloquent architecture by Fumihiko Maki.
And while Maki’s firm is entirely responsible for 4 WTC’s design, Silverstein recalled a turning-point moment in the tower’s destiny when he met years ago with Skidmore Owings & Merrill partners David Childs and TJ Gottesdiener.
It was shortly after 9/11 — before Childs would design Silverstein’s downtown-game-changing 7 WTC.
Silverstein had first tapped Childs to improve certain features of the Twin Towers. After the attack, it was clear a new World Trade Center would eventually rise, although no one knew what it would be.
As Silverstein recalls: “I said to David, ‘What would be your reaction if I asked you to design all the buildings?’
“When I asked this, I saw TJ’s jaw drop — he went breathless,” Silverstein related. “David said it would be the commission of a lifetime or of 10 lifetimes. TJ was in ecstasy.
“Then, David proceeded to say, ‘As a friend, I’d tell you that was a mistake.’ At which point I thought TJ was going to have a heart attack. He went from manic to depressive,” Silverstein laughed.
“I thought TJ was going to shoot his partner. He was beside himself with anger.
“But I got what David was saying. When you have one architect, you have the same language in all the buildings.”
Silverstein said he preferred the sense of “diversity and excitement from different architects.”
Childs’ advice ultimately led Silverstein to “starchitects” including Norman Foster, Richard Rogers — and Maki, whom Childs says he introduced to Silverstein. The developer tapped Foster for 2 WTC and Rogers for 3 WTC.
Childs told us Silverstein’s account is “pretty close to the truth,” but he recalls having chats with him on several different occasions. (A call to Gottesdiener wasn’t returned.)
One fateful talk occurred two years after 9/11, when Silverstein told Childs that then-Gov. George Pataki “insisted we move ahead on the Freedom Tower.” Childs recalls saying, “Larry, remember, we agreed we’ve got to have multiple architects.”
But he says Silverstein told him, “I can’t proceed with this tallest building with someone I don’t know.”
That led to Childs working for six years on two different designs for 1 WTC — which Silverstein later turned over to the Port Authority, and which Childs has all but renounced over alterations since made by the PA and the Durst Organization.
At 2.3 million square-foot 4 WTC, the PA will make its headquarters in 800,000 square feet, while the city has a deal for 600,000 feet more.
“Everything above the 43rd floor, with spectacular views, is available to commercial tenants,” Silverstein crowed.
*
More casual eats are coming to Midtown Eighth Avenue, where Schnippers and Shake Shack are already thriving.
Real-estate investor Mark Monasebian has leased the retail corner of 750 Eighth Ave. at West 46th Street for a new Asian-fusion concept called Satya Eastern Kitchen. A high ceiling and its sidewalk prominence combine to make it look bigger than just 2,700 square feet.
“We’re investors, not really operators, but this one will have me operating it,” Monasebian said. “It’s a passion.”
The restaurant will also feature 50 outdoor seats. Monasebian’s company, Empire Hospitality Partners, has applied for a liquor license. The asking rent was $250 a square foot.
Monasebian’s landlord is not SJP Properties, which developed the Platinum condo tower above the restaurant, but Hersel Torkian, who bought the retail portion from SJP last year for $16.25 million.