432 Park Avenue | © Halkin Mason Photography, Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects Located in Midtown Manhattan, 432 Park Avenue is a prominent figure in the evolution of supertall residential towers. Completed in 2015, this 1,396-foot-high building by Rafael Viñoly Architects asserts a commanding presence over the city’s skyline. Its minimalist form and rigorous geometry have sparked considerable debate within the architectural community, marking it as a significant and controversial addition to New York City’s built environment. 432 Park Avenue Technical Information Architects1-8: Rafael Viñoly Architects Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA Gross Area: 38,344 m2 | 412,637 Sq. Ft. Project Years: 2011 – 2015 Photographs: © Halkin Mason Photography, Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects It’s a building designed for the enjoyment of its occupants, not for the delight of its creator. – Rafael Viñoly 432 Park Avenue Photographs © Halkin Mason Photography, Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects Courtesy of Rafael Viñoly Architects Design Intent and Conceptual Framework At the heart of 432 Park Avenue’s design lies a commitment to pure geometry. The square, an elemental form, defines every aspect of the building, from its floor plate to its overall silhouette. This strict adherence to geometry speaks to Viñoly’s rationalist sensibilities and interest in stripping architecture to its fundamental components. The tower’s proportions, with its height-to-width ratio of roughly 1:15, transform this simple geometry into a monumental presence. This conceptual rigor positions the building as an object of formal clarity and a deliberate statement within the city’s varied skyline. The design’s minimalism extends beyond the building’s shape, reflecting Viñoly’s pursuit of a refined and disciplined expression. Eschewing decorative flourishes, the tower’s form directly responds to programmatic needs and structural imperatives. This disciplined approach underpins the project’s ambition to redefine the experience of vertical living, asserting that luxury in residential design can emerge from formal simplicity and a mastery of proportion. Spatial Organization and Interior Volumes The interior organization of 432 Park Avenue reveals an equally uncompromising commitment to clarity and openness. Each residential floor is free of interior columns, a testament to the structural ingenuity of the concrete exoskeleton. This column-free arrangement grants unobstructed floor plans and expansive panoramic views of the city, the rivers, and beyond. Floor-to-ceiling windows, measuring nearly 10 feet in height, accentuate the sense of openness and lightness within each residence. The tower’s slender core houses the vertical circulation and mechanical systems, ensuring the perimeter remains uninterrupted. This core placement allows for generous living spaces that maximize privacy and connection to the urban landscape. The interplay between structural precision and panoramic transparency shapes the experience of inhabiting these spaces. The result is a sequence of interiors that privilege intimacy and vastness, anchoring domestic life within an architectural expression of purity. Materiality, Structural Clarity, and Detailing Material choices in 432 Park Avenue reinforce the project’s disciplined approach. The building’s exposed concrete frame, treated as structure and façade, lends the tower a stark yet refined character. The grid of square windows, systematically repeated across the height of the building, becomes a defining feature of its visual identity. This modular repetition establishes a rhythmic order and speaks to the building’s underlying structural logic. High-strength concrete enables the tower’s slender profile and exceptional height while imparting a tactile materiality that resists the glassy anonymity typical of many contemporary towers. The restrained palette and attention to detail emphasize the tectonic clarity of the building’s assembly. By treating the structure itself as an architectural finish, Viñoly’s design elevates the material expression of concrete into a fundamental element of the building’s identity. Urban and Cultural Significance As one of the tallest residential buildings in the Western Hemisphere, 432 Park Avenue has significantly altered the Manhattan skyline. Its unwavering verticality and minimal ornamentation create a dialogue with the city’s diverse architectural heritage, juxtaposing a severe abstraction against a backdrop of historic and contemporary towers. 432 Park Avenue occupies a distinctive place in the ongoing narrative of New York City’s architectural evolution. Its reductive form, structural clarity, and spatial generosity offer a compelling study of the power of minimalism at an urban scale. 432 Park Avenue Plans Floor Plans | © Rafael Viñoly Architects Floor Plans | © Rafael Viñoly Architects Floor Plans | © Rafael Viñoly Architects Floor Plans | © Rafael Viñoly Architects 432 Park Avenue Image Gallery © Rafael Viñoly Architects About Rafael Viñoly Architects Rafael Viñoly, a Uruguayan-born architect (1944–2023), founded Rafael Viñoly Architects in New York City in 1983. After studies in Buenos Aires and early practice in Argentina, he relocated to the U.S.. He established a global firm with offices in cities including London, Palo Alto, and Abu Dhabi. Renowned for large-scale, function-driven projects such as the Tokyo International Forum, Cleveland Museum of Art expansions, and 432 Park Avenue, the firm is praised for combining structural clarity, context-sensitive design, and institutional rigor across six continents. Credits and Additional Notes Client: Macklowe Properties and CIM Group Design Team: Rafael Viñoly (Architect), Deborah Berke Partners (Interior Design of residential units), Bentel & Bentel (Amenity Spaces Design) Structural Engineer: WSP Cantor Seinuk Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineers: Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B) Construction Manager: Lendlease Height: 1,396 feet (425.5 meters) Number of Floors: 96 stories Construction Years: 2011–2015

Here's what we looked at this week:Objets d'esign: Lexon is releasing speaker and lamp versions of Jeff Koons' Balloon Dog sculpture. Volvo's new Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt compensates for different sizes, shapes and crash severities.Dometic's designey coolers use a different manufacturing method. Wandercraft's Eve, the world's first self-balancing exoskeleton, allows people to walk again.U.C. Berkeley's tiny pogo robot has a unique locomotion style.BARE designs a better—and less expensive—Dutch oven featuring a host of UX improvements.Clever materials use: How to clear standing water on a flat roof using rope.Architecture that works with challenging terrain, not against it: The Zig-Zag Resort, by JA Joubert and UNS Architects.Industrial design firm APE creates the Echo Pro, a perfect-fitting bike helmet with a novel adjustment mechanism.The Splay Max: A folding portable 35" monitor.Industrial Design student work: Dashiell Schaeffer's Curvesse rocking chair, made from a single sheet of plywood.These unusual, "anti-ligature" doorknobs are designed with a grim functional purpose.Designey tool kits: A trend with legs.BareBag's unusual design approach: Bags that serve as hanging points for other bags.From Germany, the NOHRD SlimBeam is a handcrafted, attractive piece of home exercise equipment.Why America's streetlights have been turning purple.When industrial design is subject to aftermarket modifications: BoxPlates to undo the PlayStation 5's look.This ShowerClear design fixes the mold problem all showerheads have.Industrial design case study: Curve ID tackles industrial kitchen equipment for JAVAR.

A person using ChatGPT on their phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson) Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER:- Scammers can exploit your data from just one ChatGPT search- Business Insider embraces AI while laying off 21% of workforce- Nvidia, Dell partner with Trump admin to make next-gen supercomputerGUARD YOUR DATA: ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) have become amazing helpers for everyday tasks. Whether it's summarizing complex ideas, designing a birthday card or even planning your apartment's layout, you can get impressive results with just a simple prompt.NEWS BREAK: Business Insider announced Thursday that the company will be shrinking the size of its newsroom and making layoffs, impacting over a fifth of its staff. Business Insider CEO Barbara Peng said in an internal memo obtained by Fox News Digital that the company is "fully embracing AI," as 70% of the company’s staff currently uses Enterprise ChatGPT, with a goal of 100%.  Sen. Elizabeth Warren and progressives are taking issue with what they see as Nvidia's outsized influence in the AI chip market. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)HIGH TECH: Nvidia and Dell on Thursday announced a breakthrough supercomputer powered by artificial intelligence (AI) will launch next year to help drive research at the Department of Energy (DOE).SETTING THE PACE: Pace University uses AI and scannable QR codes to read graduates' names. Passengers arrive to Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on May 7, 2025. (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)A-'EYE' IN THE SKY: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced that artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to detect and address air traffic risks, following a slew of near-misses and fatal plane crashes across the country.'PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION': Nvidia, a leader in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, saw shares rise 3% in after-hours trading following the announcement. The earnings report showed that first-quarter net income was up 26% from a year ago at nearly $19 billion, with revenue rising to $44 billion, up 69% from last year. Apple logo (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)'AGRI-FICIAL' INTELLIGENCE: John Deere is turning to artificial intelligence to help farmers address labor shortages and enable them to handle other tasks associated with their business.APPLE’S AI RECKONING': OpenAI has just made a move that's turning heads across the tech world. The company is acquiring io, the AI device startup founded by Jony Ive, for nearly $6.5 billion. This isn't your typical business deal. It's a collaboration between Sam Altman, who leads OpenAI, and the designer responsible for some of Apple's most iconic products, including the iPhone and Apple Watch.STANDING TALL AGAIN: For Caroline Laubach, being a Wandercraft test pilot is about more than just trying out new technology. It's about reclaiming a sense of freedom and connection that many wheelchair users miss. Laubach, a spinal stroke survivor and full-time wheelchair user, has played a key role in demonstrating the personal AI-powered prototype exoskeleton's development, and her experience highlights just how life-changing this device can be. A man using an exoskeleton to walk. (Wandercraft)BOT BLUNDER: Google’s artificial intelligence chatbot is being slammed for "anti-American" claims about the supposed White supremacist origins of Memorial Day.FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIASIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERSDOWNLOAD OUR APPSWATCH FOX NEWS ONLINEFox News GoSTREAM FOX NATIONFox NationStay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here. This article was written by Fox News staff.

Cicadas are back at it again in 2025, already emerging in droves to announce the approach of summer with their screeches. If you live in the Eastern U.S., get ready to meet (and hear) Brood XIV (14), this year’s batch of periodical cicadas. Cicadas in Brood XIV have begun to pop up in multiple states, climbing out of the underground holes that they’ve spent the last 17 years in. Now, they’ll dedicate the entire month of June to mating and laying eggs before dying. Learn more about the lives of these noisy insects and what makes Brood XIV so noteworthy. Cicadas From South to NorthPeriodical cicadas consist of seven species, falling under 15 broods that either emerge every 13 or 17 years. They’re not the same as annual cicadas, which arrive every summer in much smaller numbers and don’t have the same synchronized development.Most years, one brood of periodical cicadas makes an appearance above ground. However, 2024 was an extraordinary year for cicadas because two adjacent broods (XIII and XIX) overlapped. The rare double-brood event was a must-see, since the next double-brood won’t occur until 2037 (IX and XIX will emerge together, but they aren’t adjacent). This year’s Brood XIV — a 17-year brood — won’t bring as much cicada chaos as last year, but its range is undoubtedly impressive. Cicadas will appear mostly in the Midwest and South, with a large swath concentrated from southern Ohio, down through Kentucky, and Tennessee. Their prevalence in Kentucky has led some to designate Brood XIV as the “Bourbon Brood”.Cicadas in Brood XIV will also appear as far south as northern Georgia and as far north as Long Island, New York, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Brood XIV is notable for being the second largest brood after XIX, a 13-year brood referred to as “The Great Southern Brood." Brood XIV is also considered to be the ancestral group from which all other 17-year broods have been shaped. This brood holds a special place in history, as its forebears were first recorded by the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony in 1634. Understanding the Cicada Lifecycle Cicadas in Brood XIV were last seen above ground in 2008; the ones that lived back then laid the eggs that have now become the fully-fledged cicadas emerging this year. The cicada life cycle starts when eggs that are located underground hatch into nymphs, which eat fluid from the roots of trees. The nymphs undergo five juvenile stages over the course of years, molting with each stage. They eventually crawl out of exit tunnels and find a spot to molt one final time, marking the start of adulthood. Once the adult cicadas’ exoskeleton hardens, they then focus on mating. The males climb up trees and produce their shrill songs en masse, using muscles to vibrate a rigid part of their exoskeletons called tymbals. After mating, a female cicada lays upwards of 600 eggs that will hatch after six to ten weeks, long after all of the adults have died. The newborn nymphs will then fall out of trees and burrow underground to begin the cycle anew. The Issue with Stragglers Tracking and mapping periodical cicadas of each brood is an ongoing process that needs updating nearly every year. The majority of broods come out on time, but it turns out that not all cicadas are flawless in their timekeeping.One factor that complicates tracking efforts is the existence of stragglers, cicadas that emerge earlier or later than their brood is supposed to. Stragglers that arrive at the wrong time could potentially mix with separate, adjacent broods, causing gene flow. For example, the concern this year is that previous broods could have stragglers that appear late and intermingle with Brood XIV. These stragglers could come from Brood X, which last emerged 4 years ago (and stragglers tend to emerge 1 or 4 years after their parent brood). There usually aren’t many stragglers for any given year, and they’re often picked out quickly by predators. However, some survive and influence nearby broods that emerge on time, which can throw off the data that scientists collect. Beyond the inevitable racket that they’ll create, cicadas are entirely harmless. They don’t bite or sting, but at the very least, be prepared for a loud month ahead. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:University of Connecticut. Brood XIVArizona State University. Cicada Life CycleUniversity of Connecticut. Straggling and core 17-year broodsJack Knudson is an assistant editor at Discover with a strong interest in environmental science and history. Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and previously interned at Recycling Today magazine.

Got a project that’s too contemporary for your client? Submit your conceptual works, images and ideas for global recognition and print publication in the 2025 Vision Awards! The clock is ticking — submit your work ahead of the Main Entry deadline on June 6th. After almost fifty years of being open to the public, the Centre Pompidou will temporarily close for a major renovation. The works will address structural aging and bring the facility up to current safety, accessibility and environmental standards, ensuring the Centre Pompidou can continue to operate as a world-class institution. The closure is expected to last approximately five years, with reopening planned for 2030. As would-be visitors postpone their architectural pilgrimages, it’s an opportune moment to revisit some of its most distinctive architectural features. Since its inauguration in 1977,  it is one of Paris’ most recognizable landmarks, an icon of High-Tech architecture and a beacon of cultural innovation. Designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the building turned traditional museum design upside down (or, rather, inside-out!), with its boldly exposed infrastructure and brightly color-coded mechanical systems. French architecture firm Moreau Kusunoki, in collaboration with Frida Escobedo Studio, was selected to lead the ambitious project for their thoughtful approach to contemporary interventions in historic settings and their commitment to sustainability. The upgrade involves no expansion of the original structure; instead, it focuses on improving the building’s long-term resilience and functionality while staying true to the original design’s spirit. View of Centre Pompidou from Montmartre, Paris, France. | Photo by Zairon via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0. 1. The Centre Pompidou is undoubtedly a bold architectural landmark and a prime example of High-Tech Architecture, also known as Structural Expressionism. This style emerged in the late 1960s, primarily in the United Kingdom, and later spread internationally. Highly influenced by Modernism and Brutalism, High-Tech Architecture proudly displays building components, such as structural and mechanical systems, which are typically concealed. The style also celebrates industrial materials, engineering innovation, and prefabrication. Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers were part of a wave of architects, including Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Nicholas Grimshaw, and Michael Hopkins, among others, who contributed significantly to the style’s development. As one of the style’s earliest and most provocative designs, the Centre Pompidou remains an all-time architectural icon.  2. The Centre Pompidou opened its doors in 1977, stirring controversy because of its industrial, rough aesthetic. Its boldly displayed structural and mechanical systems made the building look more like an industrial construction — such as factories or power plants — than a conventional civic building. Many critics saw it as out of place in historic Paris, especially compared to institutions like the Louvre, which embody traditional architectural principles. Yet, its provocative aesthetics, once criticized, are now recognized as a strength, pushing the boundaries of what an art institution can look like. Today, the Centre Pompidou is a powerful symbol of contemporary architecture that reflects the spirit of artistic avant-garde. Views of Paris from Centre Pompidou’s panoramic escalator. Photos by Huân Lê via Unsplash (right) and Florian Peeters via Unsplash (left). 3. Located in the Beaubourg area of Paris’ Marais district, the Centre Pompidou — also referred to as Beaubourg — has played a key role in revitalizing the neighborhood and activating public life with its plaza. It represents far more than a traditional museum, promoting street performances and cultural events. This strategy has transformed the area into a dynamic neighborhood, attracting both locals and visitors. 4. The Centre Pompidou was envisioned as a multidisciplinary cultural institution. In addition to its world-class modern and contemporary art collection, it also houses the Bibliothèque publique d’information (Bpi), the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM), movie theaters, and performance spaces. The integration of multiple disciplines under one roof promotes a vibrant cultural ecosystem that engages a broad and diverse public. 5. One of the Centre Pompidou’s most striking features is the external glass-enclosed escalator that rises the south façade overlooking the plaza. Nicknamed “la chenille” — French for “the caterpillar” — the escalator is more than just functional; it is a defining part of the visitor experience, offering panoramic views of Paris. This façade, with its distinctive escalator, has become so emblematic that a stylized drawing of it serves as the Centre Pompidou’s logo and branding. Centre Pompidou’s color-coded infrastructure. | Photo by Adora Goodenough via Unsplash. 6. Another outstanding feature of the building’s design is its color-coded infrastructure systems, which not only serves a functional purpose but also creates a vibrant visual language. Each  system is painted a different color to indicate its function: Blue for air ducts Green for plumbing Yellow for electrical systems Red for circulation (staircases, escalators, and elevators) The upcoming upgrade project will maintain this defining design aspect — so closely tied to the building’s identity and the spirit of the institution it houses — while improving the building’s overall functionality and sustainability with more energy-efficient technologies.   Centre Pompidou 2030 design by Moreau Kusunoki in association with Frida Escobedo Studio. Paris, France | Visualization by Moreau Kusunoki 7. Like the building’s infrastructure systems, the structure is also external, forming a steel exoskeleton composed of prefabricated steel trusses and diagonal bracing. This design approach reflects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers’ intent to create a visually striking architecture that emphasizes clarity and legibility. The renovation will preserve and restore this architectural expression while making significant upgrades to meet today’s standards, including the refurbishment of the steel frame and façades without compromising the original design intent. 8. By placing the building’s structural and mechanical systems on the exterior, the Centre Pompidou offers expansive open spaces that can be easily reconfigured. This design approach optimizes the flexible use of spaces, ideal for exhibitions and performances. The new design will not expand the original structure but will make better use of previously underutilized areas. According to the architect’s project statement, the renovation seeks to “rationalize and simplify the spatial organization in order to establish clear, readable layout principles.” Centre Pompidou 2030 design by Moreau Kusunoki in association with Frida Escobedo Studio. Paris, France | Visualization by Moreau Kusunoki 9. In their project statement, Moreau Kusunoki also explain the shift in societal values since the Centre Pompidou opened in 1977: “When the Centre Pompidou was conceived, notions of speed, animation and information dissemination symbolized progress. Today, the paradigm is reversed: faced with information overload, fragmented attention and isolation caused by screen time, the Centre Pompidou offers a space where mediation, human interaction and the physical experience are central.” 10. The Atelier Brancusi is integral to the Pompidou’s identity. Situated just beside the main building on Place Georges-Pompidou, it will also close temporarily during the renovation. The renovation measures are aimed to ensure its careful preservation and eventual reopening in 2030. Got a project that’s too contemporary for your client? Submit your conceptual works, images and ideas for global recognition and print publication in the 2025 Vision Awards! The clock is ticking — submit your work ahead of the Main Entry deadline on June 6th. Top image: Centre Pompidou 2030 by MOREAU KUSUNOKI,Paris,France The post 10 Facts About Centre Pompidou, a High-Tech Architectural Iconic in Paris appeared first on Journal.

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08944-wRe-examination of the presumed Cambrian fossil fish Anatolepis reveals previous misidentification of aglaspidid sensory structures as dentine, a vertebrate sensory tissue, showing it to be an arthropod, and shifting the origin of vertebrate hard tissues to the Middle Ordovician.