The Vessel is to reopen, three years after it was closed following a spate of suicides at the 150-foot tall honeycomb-like structure in Hudson Yards.
In a story initially reported by CBS News, Related Properties and Hudson Yards announced that they are preparing to welcome visitors once again to the $200m structure after significant safety upgrades have been implemented.
The announcement comes as a response to the public outcry following a spate of suicides at the West Side tourist attraction, including the death of a 14-year-old boy in July 2021, which prompted the structure’s closure and a reevaluation of its safety features.
The Vessel originally opened in March 2019 and quickly became a key feature of the Hudson Yards redevelopment. It comprises 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs — almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings. The vertical climb offers views of the city, the river and beyond.
However, the allure of its interconnected staircases and platforms was overshadowed by safety concerns after multiple fatalities occurred shortly after its opening.
At the time of its closure in 2021, Lowell Kern, the then Chair of Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4), said: “Unfortunately this is inevitable, given the approach that Related took in not raising the height of the barriers. The Community Board calls on Related to raise the height of the barriers, or leave The Vessel permanently closed.”
On Friday, Related said a collaborative effort between Hudson Yards management, designer Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio has led to the introduction of floor-to-ceiling steel mesh barriers designed to prevent further incidents while preserving the landmark’s aesthetic appeal. “We have developed these enhancements with the dual goals of safety and preserving the unique experience that has drawn millions of visitors from around the world,” stated a Hudson Yards spokesperson.
With the new safety enhancements, the Vessel’s first two levels will be fully accessible to the public, but only certain sections of the upper levels will be open, with the highest level remaining permanently closed. This decision aims to strike a balance between safety and accessibility, addressing both the structural challenges and community concerns.
Jessica Chait, current Chair of MCB4 told W42ST: “Ensuring the safety of all visitors to the Vessel— and the surrounding area — should have always been the priority above all else. We are relieved to see that critical changes are being made, while we remain disappointed that the commitment to open, public space has not been maintained. Safety and public accessibility should have always been paramount.”
This morning, a test section of the wire mesh could be seen installed on The Vessel at Hudson Yards. Four metal arms were spaced along one small section at the bottom of one walkway in the structure. “We designed the steel mesh in such a way that it cannot be cut or removed by visitors and at the same time will withstand the outdoor elements, while not compromising Vessel’s iconic form or views,” a Hudson Yards spokesperson told us. “The structural integrity of the mesh that will create the additional protection requires it being secured at both the top and bottom of each level of the existing structure. As this is not possible on the top level of Vessel, that level will remain closed to the public.”
The Hudson Yards website still reports that The Vessel is “temporarily closed while we install floor-to-ceiling steel mesh to the structure. We look forward to welcoming visitors back later this year.”
Officials gave no confirmation of the opening date or whether the $10 ticket that was being charged to climb The Vessel before the closure will still be in place when it reopens.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
GREAT! Look, this structure isn’t going away, so may as well reopen it with the safety measures that should’ve been implemented years ago. I’m excited to revisit this beautiful structure…maybe it’ll liven up the area again.
The “Vessel” is one ugly piece of artwork. It should be melted down & sold for scrap!
The Vessel: Why?
The Vessel is a beauty ! We lucked out and were among the first people to walk all over it on it’s opening day.
The Vessel needs visitors on it to experience it; empty, it looks forlorn. But I’m afraid that steel mesh will ruin it’s aesthetic appeal.
Now it’s not only an expensive stairway to nowhere, it’s also a cage to prevent the drumbeat of suicides. There’s something fascinating about the dystopia of it all.
“It will rival the Eiffel tower” said the developers… ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…..
It should be encased in aluminum foil and renamed “The Shwarma” (to complement “The Shed”!)
Something to give tourists that City vibe – climb some stairs! I have always seen it as ugly and unappealing…..and now we have to cage the visitors- what a society.
It should be removed and a ferris wheel put in its place like Vegas, Paris, etc.. It’s ugly, always has been. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t and this thing from the get go was a don’t.
At 150′ could not understand from the very beginning, just what you can see from The Vessel that you can’t see from the very plaza on which it sits? And now that the top deck can’t even be emmeshed in mesh, seems all the more pointless.