After a long wait, The Vessel, one of New York’s most captivating attractions, will reopen to the public this week. The spectacular honeycomb structure at Hudson Yards was closed for nearly 1,200 days following a series of suicides that raised concerns about the site’s safety.
The structure, designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick, built in Venice, and inaugurated in 2019, quickly became one of the most popular tourist destinations. Its unique architecture, characterized by zig-zagging stairways rising 46 meters on the west side of Manhattan, attracted travelers from around the world. Perhaps due to its popularity, between 2020 and 2021, four people tragically chose to end their lives by jumping from the building, which led to the temporary closure of the site.
Following a series of safety reviews and updates, it was confirmed in April that the structure could reopen with a new protection plan. The new measures include the installation of steel nets along four staircases and adjacent platforms.
These barriers, covering about half of the surface area, are designed to be discreet and will not alter the iconic appearance of the structure or the panoramic views that visitors enjoy.
For now, only the first two levels will be accessible, and the upper sections will reopen only in areas where the metal protections have been added. The top level, however, will remain off-limits. As confirmed by Related Companies, the owner of Hudson Yards, visitors will also need to purchase tickets to access The Vessel.
Jeff T. Blau, CEO of Related Companies, expressed enthusiasm for this new beginning and emphasized that interest in the attraction has never waned. He also confirmed that the team continued to receive inquiries from people eager to know when they could once again explore its architecture.
