Three Years after Closure, The Vessel Reopens with New Safety Measures

The Vessel at Hudson Yards will reopen tomorrow (Monday) after being closed for three years following a series of suicides at the high-rise tourist attraction.

In July 2021, the 150-foot-tall, beehive-shaped sculpture was closed after a string of tragic deaths . At the time, Lowell Kern, the Chair of Manhattan Community Board 4, 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.”

This April , developers announced they had collaborated with Heatherwick Studios, the architects behind The Vessel’s design, to address safety concerns by installing netting around the 16-story structure.

In a statement released today, Related Properties CEO Jeff Blau said: “Vessel is an iconic New York City experience that was always designed to be entered and explored — there is overwhelming demand from the public to do that. Not a day goes by that we don’t have visitors walking up to our staff asking where they can buy tickets and when it will reopen. That interest hasn’t diminished during the time we’ve been closed, and we’re excited to welcome guests from all around the world back to Vessel with additional safety measures in place.”

The new safety work was completed this fall, and the attraction will open its doors at 10am on Monday, October 21. Visitors will have access to the structure from 10am to 9pm daily, with the last entry at 8pm. Tickets, which are required for all visitors, cost $10 and can be purchased online or on-site. Children under five can enter free of charge.

For New York City residents, free tickets will be offered every Thursday, subject to availability, and can be reserved online. A limit of four tickets per transaction applies, with proof of residency required. The Vessel also offers a Flex Admission ticket for $15, allowing guests to visit on any day with flexible arrival times.

While the lower two levels will reopen with their full 360-degree paths, the upper levels will only allow access to areas secured with floor-to-ceiling steel mesh. As securing mesh at the uppermost level proved unfeasible, it will remain closed to the public.

A spokesperson from Hudson Yards explained that the steel mesh was specifically designed to endure outdoor conditions without detracting from the sculpture’s distinctive appearance or obstructing views. “The mesh cannot be cut or removed by visitors and ensures structural integrity by being secured at both the top and bottom of each level,” they noted.

The Vessel first opened in March 2019 as a centerpiece of the Hudson Yards redevelopment, featuring 154 interconnected flights of stairs with nearly 2,500 steps and 80 landings. The structure quickly became a popular attraction, offering visitors sweeping views of the city and the Hudson River.

This afternoon, the installation of the wire mesh could be seen on the top walkways of the sculpture. Metal arms supporting the mesh were visible along the structure, marking the latest effort to make the attraction safe while preserving its architectural beauty. Workers from Related were seen preparing security measures at the foot of the sculpture for tomorrow’s opening.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 1-800-273-8255. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

The post Three Years after Closure, The Vessel Reopens with New Safety Measures appeared first on W42ST .