An ethereal design of steel and open space, the two newly renovated dance studios are as graceful as the dancers that practice within them. Quickly outgrowing its space, the school looked for creative expansion solutions.

In a city full of glass and steel luxury condo developments, 40 Bond Street stands apart from the crowd. Its exterior of cast aluminum gates, stainless steel plates, curved bottle-green glass, and blackened copper is as rich as it is distinctive and iconic. Owner: 40 Bond Street Partners, LLC Developer: Ian Schrager Company Design Architect: Herzog & de Meuron Basel, CH Architect of Record: Handel Architects, LLP New York, NY Client’s Representative: David J. Spector & Associates, Inc. New York, NY Structural Engineer: DeSimone Consulting Engineers New York, NY Mechanical Engineer: Ambrosino DePinto & Schmieder New York, NY General Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease LMB, Inc. New York, NY Facade Consultant: Israel Berger & Associates, Inc. New York, NY Architectural Metal Erector: Empire Architectural Metal College Point, NY Wall Erector: S & C Products New York, NY

A building with a double purpose, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is meant to house its works, and incorporate learning into its very design. Part of a $46 million expansion, the recent renovation doubled the amount of space while providing a street presence the former 1970s designed exterior sorely lacked. The use of steel allowed the creation of long truss spans and cantilevers that provides space for glass openings along the street, making it the most unique building in the neighborhood. Owner: New York City Department of Design and Construction New York, NY Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects PC New York, NY Structural Engineer: Dewhurst MacFarlane & Partners New York, NY Mechanical Engineer: ARUP New York, NY Construction Manager: Koch Skanska Carteret, NJ Structural Steel Fabricators and Erectors: Steel Co./Metropolitan Steel Industries, Inc. Sinking Spring, PA Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators: Transcontinental Steel Newark, NJ Architectural Metal Erectors: W&W Glass Systems, Inc. Nanuet, NY Ornamental Metal Fabricator and Erector: Transcontinental Steel Newark, NJ Curtain Wall Erector: W&W Glass Systems, Inc. Nanuet, NY Metal Deck Erector: A.C. Associates Lyndhurst, NJ

A crystal palace for the Green Generation, One Bryant Park boasts both LEED Certification and one of the most unique exteriors in the New York skyline. The Tower’s 25,000 tons of structural steel, eight steel fabricators, and cost-saving design combine to create a high-performance office tower that looks like poetry on 42nd Street. Owner: Bank of America at One Bryant Park, LLC, a joint venture between The Durst Organization and Bank of America, New York, NY Architect: Cook + Fox Architects, LLP New York, NY Executive Architect: Adamson Associates Architects New York, NY Structural Engineer: Severud Associates New York, NY Mechanical Engineer: Jaros, Baum & Bolles New York, NY General Contractor: Tishman Construction Corp. New York, NY Curtain Wall Consultant: Israel Berger & Associates, Inc. New York, NY Structural Steel Erector: Cornell & Company Woodbury, NJ Miscellaneous Steel Fabricator and Erector: Empire City Iron Works Long Island City, NY Miscellaneous Steel Fabricator: Skyline Steel Corp. Brooklyn, NY Miscellaneous Metal Erector: Metro Steel Erectors, Inc. Brooklyn, NY Architectural Metal Fabricator: Allied Bronze New York, NY Ornamental Metal Erector: Melto Metal Products, Inc. Freeport, NY Curtain Wall Fabricator: Permasteelisa Cladding Technologies, Ltd. Windsor, CT Curtain Wall Erector: Tower Erectors Clinton, NJ Metal Deck Erector: Cornell & Company Woodbury, NJ

Before its make-over and high-end retail tenant, 37 Wall Street had been home to The Trust Company of America. While its exterior retained its grandeur, its interior was sadly neglected. Tiffany’s presented its architect with a challenge – maintain the grand room while creating an intimate atmosphere for clients. The result – a series of steel-and-glass installations that are as stylish and beautiful to the modern consumer as they are befitting in the historic space. Owner: Tiffany & Co. New York, NY Architect: Yabu Pushelberg Toronto, CA Structural Engineer: EBM New York, NY Mechanical Engineer: Chetrit Consulting Engineers New York, NY General Contractor: ACC Construction New York, NY Miscellaneous, Architectural and Ornamental Metal Erector: United Ornamental Holtsville, NY

As common in office construction built in the 1970s, 1095 Avenue of the Americas was faced with an aging, out-of-date façade and energy systems while its sleek, modern neighbors attracted all the attention – and coveted tenants. Its renovation sought to beautify the space while providing natural sunlight to its inhabitants. The mostly-steel superstructure was sound, so instead of demolishing the building, it was stripped to its frame and refitted with up-to-date mechanical and cladding systems, making the building at home once again amongst its Sixth Avenue neighbors. Owner: Equity Office Chicago, IL Architects: Moed de Armas & Shannon New York, NY; Gensler New York, NY Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates New York, NY Mechanical Engineer: Cosentini Associates New York, NY General Contractor: Tishman Construction New York, NY Curtain Wall Consultant: Israel Berger & Associates, Inc. New York, NY Miscellaneous Steel Erector: Hallen Welding Service Long Island City, NY Architectural and Ornamental Metal Erector: Melto Metal Products Freeport, NY Curtain Wall Fabricator and Erector: Benson Global Portland, OR

Described as the Workhorse of the East River Span, the Manhattan Bridge opened its roadway nearly a century ago and was showing immense wear and tear. The New York City Department of Transportation launched a rehabilitation program in the early 1980s and the program is expected to be finished in 2013. Incorporating thousands of tons of steel, the bridge’s four stiffening trusses have been reinforced, the decking and bearings have been replaced, and the main cables have been re-anchored. Due to steel’s strength and force, the Manhattan Bridge is once again ready to ferry its daily 80,000 vehicles and 320,000 mass-transit travelers well into the future.

For more than 100 years The Plaza symbolized New York luxury and excess. Its exterior a co-star in countless Hollywood stories, the building’s interior began to slowly fade in glamour and stature. A $400 million renovation was undertaken which included adding an additional store beneath the building’s iconic rooftop. An all-female structural engineer team was assembled – dubbed “The Women of Steel.” Before framing out the new space, the roof was completely removed while the existing structure was extensively modified to marry the new steel to the old. Today, signs of the major renovation have completely melted into the interior and the Plaza maintains its glamour from the inside out. Owner: Elad Properties New York, NY Architects: Costas Kondylis and Partners New York, NY; Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC New York, NY; Gal Nauer Architects New York, NY Structural Engineer: WSP Cantor Seinuk New York, NY Mechanical Engineer: Flack & Kurtz New York, NY General Contractor: Tishman Construction New York, NY Facade Consultant: David V. Abramson & Associates Newark, NJ Structural Steel Erector: DCM Erectors, Inc. New York, NY Miscellaneous Metal Erectors: FMB, Inc. Harrison, NJ; United Iron Inc. Mount Vernon, NY Architectural and Ornamental Metal Erector: Empire Architectural Metal Inc. College Point, NY

Originally conceived as home to the 2012 Olympic water polo events, New York City decided to construct the Natatorium and Ice Rink after losing the games to London. Offering city inhabitants a year-round Olympic size swimming pool and NHL sized skating rink, the facility’s masts of its highly-efficient cable stayed roof tower above the green of park below, inspiring Olympic hopefuls inside the building and visitors outside the building alike. Owner: The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation New York, NY Developer: New York Economic Development Corporation New York, NY Architect: Handel Architects in association with Kevin Hom + Goldman Architects New York, NY Structural Engineer: Geiger Engineers Suffern, NY Mechanical Engineer: Flack and Kurtz New York, NY General Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease New York, NY Structural Steel Fabricators:MRP South Plainfield, NJ; ADF Montreal, Quebec, CA Structural Steel Erector: DCM Erectors New York, NY Pre-cast Concrete Erector: A.J. McNulty & Co. Inc. Maspeth, NY Miscellaneous Steel Erectors: DCM Erectors New York, NY Architectural Metal Fabricators: GC Ironworks Elmsford, NY; Summit Industries LLC East Ruthersford, NJ Architectural Metal Erectors:GC Ironworks Elmsford, NY; Summit Industries LLC East Ruthersford, NJ Ornamental Metal Erectors: GC Ironworks Elmsford, NY; Summit Industries LLC East Ruthersford, NJ Curtain Wall Fabricators: Kawneer Company, Inc. Norcross, GA; Viracon Glass Owatonna, MN Metal Deck Erector: Solera/DCM ERectors, Inc. New York, NY

For years the SoHo neighborhood in downtown Manhattan has been recognized as the epitome of modern chic – and construction-wary.