World’s tallest penthouse has stunning NYC views but suffers from wind-whipped terrace and noise

The world’s tallest penthouse at the top of Central Park Tower features a stunning view of New York City, but is marred by high winds and a high-pitched whistling noise. 

Known as ‘The One Above All Else,’ the $250 million penthouse holds seven bedrooms, nine-and-a-half baths, and a total of 23 rooms atop the 1,550-foot tower overlooking Central Park. The massive building would even allow its residents to look down on the Empire State Building. 

Normally, spaces at such attitudes are reserved for offices, and the penthouse has found itself with some unique problems through the strong winds that pummel New York City’s skyline. 

In a tour of the penthouse, CBS’s Brook Silva Braga noted that the terrace was whipped by high winds, especially in the winter, which also caused the door to slam harshly behind him. 

He also pointed out a high-pitched whistling noise echoing inside the penthouse, which the real estate agent attributed to the cold weather and described it as a ‘growing pain.’   

The world’s tallest penthouse at the top of Central Park Tower (above) overlooks the Manhattan skyline, but its massive size has also caused it to face unique problems due to the high winds 

Inside it’s $250 million penthouse, known as ‘The One Above All Else,’ a high-pitch whistling noise can be heard, especially near the windows which overlook Central Park and northern Manhattan   

CBS’s Brook Silva Braga (left) noted in his tour that the terrace area was whipped by strong winds 

It also caused the door to slam harshly, startling the reporter and the penthouse’s real estate agent 

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The penthouse holds seven bedrooms, nine-and-a-half baths, with a total of 23 rooms

Architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, who have designed some of the world’s tallest buildings, noted that there’s a difference between working in a massive skyscraper and living in one. 

Like a lot of tall buildings facing strong winds, the Central Park Tower is outfitted with a weight at the top which acts as a pendulum that causes the building to sway in the direction against the wind. 

While residents may not feel the shifts, with Braga noting that he didn’t sense anything in his two-day tour, Smith and Gill said the sways would be evident to anyone taking a bath or swimming in the penthouse. 

‘In an office building, it’s a little more forgiving than it is in a residential building,’ Gill told CBS. ‘If you have a swimming pool or a bathtub full of water, the psychology around watching that move is a little different.’    

The enormous penthouse holds several catering kitchens and dining rooms spread across three floors 

Along with large living rooms, the penthouse features a large ballroom on the third floor 

It has seven bedrooms, with the more luxurious suites located on the second floor 

NYC residents have complained that when the sun moves, the building casts a large shadow over Central Park

Although not the tallest building in the world, The Central Park Tower features the penthouse as the highest residence in the world at 1,416 feet along Manhattan’s Billionaires’ Row. 

The penthouse occupies the three top floors spanning 17,545 square-feet, with an additional 1,433 square-foot outdoor area. 

It features a salon, an observatory, a library, media room, breakfast room, kitchen, guest rooms and a private elevator on the first floor alone. 

The second-level is outfitted with five luxury bedroom suites and a recreational area, with the third floor housing a grand ballroom, powder rooms, a coat room, a private study, its own catering kitchen and enough room to set up a private gym. 

While not the tallest building in the world, The Central Park Tower features the penthouse as the highest residence in the world at 1,416 feet. The building lies on Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row

The building features an observatory room which allows residents to look down on the rest of NYC’s skyline 

Along with facing strong winds, the building also faces complaints from New York City residents, who have criticized its massive size and the shadow it casts over Central Park. 

They said the building ultimately sacrificed the enjoyment of the thousands who frequent the park for the few who can actually afford to live in the tower’s luxury suites. 

Nearly two-years after the project began, the building, which holds 179 units, still has less than 30 full-time residents.