Overview
Situated in the hustle and bustle of central Manhattan accessible to multiple tourist attractions such as Times Square, Central Park and Columbia University, International Gem Tower is such a bejeweled building which can hardly be ignored on its own. It rises prominently as a landmark with its diamond-looking façade. This week let us explore the world of stainless steel through the case of International Gem Tower in New York City, USA.
International Gem Tower
International Gem Tower (IGT) is a 34-story, 680,000-square-foot commercial tower located at 50 West 47th Street in the heart of Diamond District in New York. Designed as an international gem and jewelry center on par with other global counterparts, it strengthens the play of New York and further the U.S. marketplace in international trade. It has been certified as a New York U.S. Foreign Trade Zone which allows duty-free import or export within the building.
In terms of function IGT can be regarded as two buildings featuring different addresses in one tower. The upper 14 floors (addressed as 55 West 46th Street) are designed as Class A office space featuring their own entrance and leased to businesses from varied backgrounds, while the lower 20 floors are reserved for the gem industry.
The Background Information of International Gem Tower
International Gem Tower was actually part of the New York "City’s Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan”. In the wake of 2008 Financial Crisis, which trigged the Great Recession globally and also sagging economy in America, the then New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced first phase of construction of IGT on 19 May 2009 for two highlights,
Firstly, the project would create more than 3000 jobs and space for around 250 businesses, implementing the vision of the City’s Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan, i.e., long-term economic growth and affordable, attractive neighborhoods.
Secondly, investment on IGT could revitalize New York City’s jewelry industry, which constituted a valuable part of the local economy. With the new building came more space to attract international companies or local businesses that wanted to expand. It would increase New York’s presence and enhance its competitiveness in world’s gem markets like Shanghai, Dubai and Las Vegas.
The whole project was expected to complete in 2011 when the announcement was made. In reality, under the cloud of 2008 Financial Crisis, construction didn’t resume until April of 2011. Gary Barnett, President of Extell Development Company, the developer of the project proved the main force to push forward the implementation of this delayed project. Eventually IGT was opened in the summer of 2013.
The Design of International Gem Tower
International Gem Tower looks quite unique, not only in the appearance, but also from the location and the name. It is located in the Diamond District abundant with wholesale diamond business, where this building alone dominates an industry. The name of International Gem Tower bespeaks both its façade and function.
IGT was designed by the famous architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (SOM), New York. The design was truly contextual, justified by the inspired angular geometry and diamond-looking façade. The whole building was clad with a three-dimensional, folded glass façade, and the embedded hexagonal shaped stainless steel panels. As said by Todd Shapiro of SOM, “The stainless steel material captures and refracts light and the panel texture heightens the visual effect,” (Contrarian Metal Resources 2014). The interplay of light and glass gives rise to rich, dynamic and kaleidoscopic reflections.
Stainless Steel Applied to International Gem Tower
According to ISSF (2025), there were 132 tons of 316 stainless steel in Starlight 7J finish applied to IGT façade. They were manufactured by Japanese firm Tsukiboshi Art Co., Ltd. and distributed in USA by Contrarian Metal Resources, Allison Park, PA. The designer SOM chose Starlight 7J, a mechanically polished finish featuring uniform texture and excellent consistency. The result is the elegant panel-to-panel matching with strengthened visual experience.
Stainless Steel Materials from CIVMATS China
CIVMATS can produce custom stainless steel panels, which shape, and finish can be tailored to your specific stainless steel project demands, as in the case of IGT.
Whether you want flat products like stainless steel plate sheet coil strip or long products such as stainless steel tube pipe, bar, wire and ropes, CIVMATS remain your most reliable and trustworthy choice from China. Choose CIVMATS, choose reliability.
