McKeon Door East worked alongside multiple firms on the redesign of The Plaza at 1221 Avenue of the Americas.
In 2023, the Rockefeller Group unveiled a $50 million renovation of its Sixth Avenue Plaza, a multi-level plaza redesigned by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (ACPV Architects) with TPG Architecture as Architect of Record and Turner Construction as Construction Manager.
According to The Rockefeller Group’s website, “The project aimed to enhance underutilized privately-owned public space, making it more inviting for people throughout the day. The plaza, located at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, serves as the gateway to one of Manhattan’s largest retail spaces and offers direct access to the Rockefeller Center concourse, shops, and subway station. Additionally, the renovated plaza provides in-building access to the Rockefeller Center subway concourse and connects to 21 million square feet of class-A office space in neighboring buildings.”
The seamless flow of the redesign required equally seamless solutions to meet fire and life safety requirements without compromising visibility and connectivity. To achieve the right balance of safety and design intent, McKEON fire and smoke protective systems were incorporated throughout the project, each addressing unique conditions.
Two McKEON Auto-Set® H200 horizontal fire shutters were pivotal in enabling one of the most defining features of the plaza: the visual and physical link between the subway entrance and the lower café level. Installed at the openings adjacent to the subway entrance, the H200 fire shutters provided fire-rated horizontal separation while still allowing a view of the café below. With a 2-hour UL fire rating and smoke and draft control under UL 1784, the H200 delivered essential compartmentation without interrupting the architectural transparency envisioned by ACPV and TPG. The H200 horizontal fire shutter proved indispensable—enabling the architectural team’s vision while keeping the public safe.
Two McKEON Safescape® S9000 Side Coiling Fire Shutters were installed at key openings where fire-rated separation was required but design demanded compact, high-performance solutions with egress. Four McKEON Auto-Set® Model FSFD Fire Doors were used to protect wide span openings where fire and smoke protection was required but egress was not an issue. The McKEON Auto-Set® S4000 Side Coiling Fire Shutter was ideal for openings with complex geometry, the S4000 allowed the design team to maintain openness across multiple sides while ensuring full fire protection. Lastly, McKEON SG3000 Series security grilles were utilized providing both safety and security.
The renewed 1221 Avenue of the Americas plaza combines safety, performance, and architectural distinction. The integration of McKEON’s solutions ensured fire and smoke protection while supporting the project’s defining features of visibility and openness.