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Affectionally (or more likely, sarcastically) dubbed “the bendy buildings” by real estate website Curbed, The 49-story American Copper Buildings are slowly but surely taking their place on New York’s skyline. Located hard by FDR Drive at 626 First Avenue, the structures—a set of twin towers that bend sharply in opposite directions—were designed by go-to firm of the moment SHoP Architects, creators of Downtown Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Among its features will be the first major sky bridge built in 80 years, according to the developers, though the pair of sky bridges at Hunter College at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue date from 1982. But no matter: It is true that sky bridges—once a common feature of New York high-rise architecture between the turn of the 20th century and the 1920s—have become vanishingly rare.
More to the point the bendy buildings’ three-story sky bridge linking them at roughly mid-point level will include a special amenity: A 75-foot lap pool and a hot tub. You’ll be able to do the breast stroke, crawl or back stroke with magisterial views of midtown on one side and Queens on the other. Of course, to have access to the pool you have to live in one of the 761 residences, and the rent won’t come cheap. But good news! There will be 150 apartments set aside as affordable housing. Which means you may not have to be a high roller in order to make a big splash.