Macklowe sees 432 Park as “culmination” of his career

Developer Harry Macklowe is considering residential tower 432 Park Avenue “the culmination” of his career.

Once completed, the property will stand 1,398 feet and be the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere. Macklowe considers it his masterpiece.

“Harry thinks this building is the most important building in the history of architecture,” said Rafael Viñoly, the building’s architect.

Macklowe’s career has been a notorious roller coaster, from his record purchase of the GM Building for $1.4 billion and his acquisition of seven buildings from the Blackstone Group for $7 billion, to the loss of all the properties at sharp discounts after the credit crisis.

However, Macklowe sees the construction of 432 Park — possibly his last project — as one to define his legacy. And he’s not taking any chances, “engaging, almost manically, with its minutiae,” including commissioning showers without grates so as not to interrupt the surface of the book-matched marble floors, the Times wrote. [NYT] – James Comtois