Solar Reflection: 625 Madison Avenue

This study assesses solar reflections from the proposed 625 Madison Avenue building (mainly East Facade glazing) onto the neighbouring facades of 500 Park Avenue, and how those reflections relate to the direct sunlight each facade already receives.

Reflection from the proposed glazing (mainly East Facade) is directed onto the South and West facades of 500 Park Avenue only; the North and East facades of 500 Park Avenue receive none.

On both affected facades, reflection is a morning phenomenon — driven by low sun angles on the East glazing between approximately 07:00 and 12:00 — and has effectively ceased by early afternoon.

This pattern holds across every month of the year, with seasonal change affecting only the daylight availability window, not the fundamental behaviour. The duration maps confirm that reflection affects South and West facades for only a small number of hours per day, against substantially longer periods of ordinary direct sun.

These results characterise the extent, duration, location and timing of reflected and direct sun — how much of each facade is affected, where, for how long, and when.

Architect: Foster + Partners

Client: Confi dential