Outrage over Norman Foster’s new skyscraper in New York: “It’s an ecological obscenity”
The $4 billion JP Morgan tower draws criticism for its massive steel use and questionable environmental impact despite net-zero claims.
JP Morgan, one of the world’s largest banks with operations in over 100 countries, posted weekly profits of more than $1 billion for the first time last year. Its market value far exceeds other U.S. banking giants like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. This year, the bank completed what it calls its crown jewel: a massive new headquarters in the heart of Manhattan.
The project began in 2018, when the architecture firm Foster + Partners won the competition to design JP Morgan’s new HQ. To make way for it, the iconic Union Carbide building, constructed in 1960, was demolished. That tower had recently undergone what JP Morgan described as “the largest green office renovation in the world,” but today it’s history.
A steel giant on Park Avenue
At 270 Park Avenue stands the new headquarters, built with a staggering 95,000 tons of structural steel. “Ninety-seven percent of the demolition materials were recycled, reused, or repurposed,” the architects say. Still, critics argue that’s an enormous amount for a 1,388-foot-tall building with just 60 floors. By comparison, it uses 60% more steel than in the Empire State Building, which is taller and has more floor space. With that much steel, you could wrap the Earth twice.
Despite being described as “the city’s largest all-electric tower with net-zero operational emissions,” the building has faced harsh criticism from UK-based newspaper The Guardian, which fears the “ecological obscenity” could inspire similar mega-projects in the U.K. at some point. The project is led by 90-year-old Norman Foster, who also designed Hong Kong’s HSBC tower, once the most expensive building in the world.
Luxury amenities meet high-tech design
The tower reportedly cost around $4 billion, according to JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon. Its lower levels feature massive column clusters at each corner, creating wider sidewalks at street level. Inside, the main lobby features a 40-foot flagpole flying an American flag, kept aloft by artificial interior breezes.
The interior features striking walls and a staircase made from striped travertine stone sourced from a single Italian quarry. The building offers a host of amenities for its more than 10,000 employees, including a food court with 19 restaurants (with desk delivery), a barber shop, meditation rooms, a gym, a medical clinic, and a pub. But comfort isn’t the only focus: office floors feature circadian lighting to optimize productivity.
Critics question sustainability
Experts have raised concerns about the building’s design. According to The Guardian, one engineer analyzing the plans suggested that adding a few columns and shortening some spans by just a couple of meters could have cut the carbon footprint by 20–30%. At night, the tower’s top is illuminated and visible for miles around, cementing its status as a Manhattan landmark—though one that has sparked debate over its environmental impact.
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