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Rotating, Self-Powered, Prefab “Dynamic Tower” May Twist into Manhattan

June 24, 2008  |  from greenbuildingsNYC

The Dynamic Tower- a 1380-foot, rotating residential high-rise, will break ground in Dubai within a few months, according to Italian architect David Fisher, who discussed details about the project at a press conference today at the Plaza Hotel in Midtown. According to Dr. Fisher, a second Dynamic Tower will soon follow in Moscow with a third to come here in New York City. GlobeSt.com reports that although Fisher did not provide specific details about the New York iteration of the project, he did note that he is already talking to developers about bringing the concept to Gotham. The Dubai tower will cost $700 million and consist of 80 floors; the 70-story Moscow version is budgeted at $400 million.

The Dynamic Tower uses wind turbines, sandwiched horizontally between each floor and manufactured from a carbon fiber, to generate its own electricity. The entire building will also be constructed from prefabricated components that are manufactured off-site (the first factory for the Dubai tower will be located in Southern Italy). Each floor of the Dynamic Tower actually rotates, creating what Dr. Fisher calls a “unique and ever-evolving architectural structure.” It should take crews approximately one week to erect an entire floor. The horizontal turbines are designed to eliminate many of the environmental issues associated with similar vertical installations (i.e., aesthetic concerns, danger to wildlife).

Dr. Fisher’s design also calls for a number of other green features, including low-E glass, SIPs, and photovoltaic cells on the roof of each rotating floor; close to twenty percent of each floor will receive direct sunlight.

You can access video of today’s press conference here.

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Filed: Green-Construction