While bridges in New York have traditionally been reserved for vehicular traffic and, occasionally, trains, the Pontem Tower reclaims the bridge's original purpose of connecting people at a pedestrian scale. The bridge spans the East River and connects Hunter's Point Park in Queens to the empty land south of the United Nations Headquarters, providing direct access to two of the city's most prominent areas. Pedestrians crossing the bridge will have the opportunity to pause and take in the views from a height of one hundred feet, as they walk around the bridge's loop created by its opposing catenary splays.
In its reimagining of the bridge's function, the Pontem Tower connects two distinct parts of the bustling metropolis and showcases a refined concept for New York's constant expansion. At the same time, it employs the graceful structural suspension language that has been in use since the Industrial Revolution, adding a touch of elegance to the city's built environment.
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