Meganom's 262 Fifth Avenue skyscraper clad with 200,000 custom aluminium bricks

Russian architecture studio Meganom has developed a facade system for its 262 Fifth Avenue skyscraper in Manhattan, using over 200,000 laser-cut aluminium elements. The panels feature rows of aluminium bricks, most prominently on a shear wall. Chief architect Bogdan Peric of developer Five Points explained that the bricks' domestic scale draws people closer to the monumental building. The studio collaborated with an Italian manufacturer to create four brick patterns, mirrored to yield eight designs. When arrayed, the bricks glimmer like rippling water; grooves allow rainwater to pass, and anodising prevents rust. The 860-foot-tall (262-meter) tower, which topped out in 2024, is mostly clad, with glass facades on the north side reflecting an adjacent church and the Empire State Building. Some elements, like the externalised core, will feature photovoltaic panels. The 26-storey building hosts 26 luxury residences by Danish studio Nord Architects. Its base spans only 2,211 square feet (205 square meters). The tower has faced criticism for obscuring Empire State Building views from Madison Square Park. A sky deck with a 24-karat gold oculus is under construction.