Hearst Tower's main spatial event is the six-level lobby that provides access to all parts of the building. This dramatic space provides access to all parts of the building, incorporating the main elevator lobby, the Hearst staff cafeteria and auditorium, and mezzanine levels for meetings and special functions. The distinctive “Ice Fall” water feature, designed by James Carpenter Design Associates Inc., rises two stories to a mezzanine-level café for Hearst employees.
Comprised of glass and stainless steel, this dramatic feature encompasses approximately 3,000 square feet of the building and capitalizes on the unique space and light possibilities inherent in the lobby of the original building. It uses recycled rainwater to cool the space in the summer and humidify it in the winter.