David Chipperfield Architects has won an international design competition to design the Rolex USA headquarters in New York. Rolex, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer, has selected the British architect David Chipperfield to build its new headquarters in New York, Chipperfield-Rolex relationship is also based on the architect's mentorship for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative in 2016–2017.

The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative is a philanthropic programme to make a contribution to global culture. The programme seeks out gifted young artists from all over the world and brings them together with artistic masters for a year of creative collaboration in a one-to-one mentoring relationship. 

Chipperfield has also revealed its design proposal for the new headquarters, the new 25-storey tower, located on the corner of 5th Avenue and 53rd Street, will replace the existing building that has been occupied by Rolex since the 1970’s.

The new tower, comprising a stack of glazed volumes, contains five glazed volumes that are superimposed each other with setbacks to create their own terraces. The tower's facade features jagged elements to give a sense of semi transparency creating special visual effect. 

"We are proud to have been selected to design the Rolex USA headquarters building," said David Chipperfield. 

"Our team is committed to creating an exemplary building befitting the heritage and culture of the Rolex brand, as well as its prominent 5th Avenue location," Chipperfield added.

The tower 15,329-square-metre tower will contain new office areas for staff and tenants and a new Rolex store at ground level, the building will provide brand experiences across a wide range of company’s interests. 

"The building will become an important symbol of Rolex’s commitment to quality, precision and excellence," said David Chipperfield Architects. 

The tower is designed according to the LEED Platinum criteria for efficient energy consumption and to achieve sustainability criteria throughout the building. 

David Chipperfield Architects' Centre Pompidou Shanghai is also set to open on November 8th, 2019. The studio recently opened James-Simon Galerie on Berlin's Museum Island. 

David Chipperfield Architects was established in London by David Chipperfield in 1985. Chipperfield has offices in London, Berlin, Milan and Shanghai.

All images courtesy of David Chipperfield Architects

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