Could You Be Too Thin? Introducing the World's Slimmest Skyscraper

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What is it about tall and slender figures that radiate prestige? Don’t believe it? Consider the anecdotal evidence: towering supermodels, champagne flutes, Virginia Slims cigarettes. (Alright, that one might be a stretch, but in the past, the 'long and lean' aesthetic was a key selling point for cigarettes.) Whatever the reason—likely marketing—we’ve come to associate height with success. Take the Manhattan skyline, where it's not just the height but the lack of width that makes the buildings so striking.

We're talking about Steinway Tower, located at 111 West 57th Street, which holds the crown as the world’s skinniest skyscraper. Standing at 1,428 feet (435 meters) tall, yet only 60 feet (18 meters) wide, it boasts an impressive width-to-height ratio of 24:1. If you’re struggling to picture how narrow it is, here’s a comparison: it’s just 6 inches (15 centimeters) shorter than the distance from a pitcher’s mound to home plate in a Major League Baseball game. The only two taller buildings in New York City are One World Trade Center (1,776 feet / 541 meters) and Central Park Tower (1,550 feet / 472 meters).

Steinway Tower is named after the famous Steinway & Sons piano company headquarters beneath it. The skyscraper, which cost $2 billion to construct, stands in a prime area at the southern edge of Central Park, a part of New York City known as 'Billionaires Row.' Designed by SHoP Architects, a firm based in New York, it was developed by JDS Development, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners. Construction on the 84-floor tower began in 2013, and it began accepting residents in April 2022. The building consists of just 60 high-end apartments.

The least expensive studio apartment in Steinway Tower will cost you $7.75 million, with penthouses priced at over $66 million. These multi-level penthouses span 7,130 square feet (662 square meters) and are connected by an elegant oval staircase. The penthouse includes four bedrooms, five bathrooms, 14-foot (4-meter) ceilings, and a private elevator. Unfortunately, it’s already off the market, having been purchased by an international buyer who only toured it virtually.

Most New Yorkers might consider it a luxury just to have a washer and dryer in the basement, but Steinway Tower takes things to the next level. The building offers a 24-hour concierge service, door attendants, a 25-meter swimming pool, a two-story fitness center, exclusive shops, and even a private dining room for residents.

Living high in the sky comes with its own set of challenges. Due to the tower’s dimensions, it is particularly vulnerable to swaying—up to 3 feet (0.9 meters)—when strong winds hit. Some visitors have reported feeling intense nausea from the movement. A nearby building at 432 Park Avenue also faced similar engineering issues, including sway, which were tough to fix due to the building's towering height.

While Steinway Tower may not hold the title of the tallest building in the world, its designers certainly aimed to create something daring and unforgettable. By all accounts, they’ve succeeded in that goal.