After a hiatus of three years due to tragic incidents, The Vessel, a towering centrepiece of Hudson Yards in New York City, is slated to reopen later this year with enhanced safety features, according to developers.
The 150-foot-tall structure, designed by Thomas Heatherwick and constructed at a hefty price tag of $260 million, was shuttered following four suicides that occurred since its inauguration. Criticism of its design likened to a "giant gold shish-kebab rotisserie," and its functionality, described by some as a "staircase to nowhere," has plagued its existence.
Before its closure, Related Companies, the entity overseeing Hudson Yards, implemented a $10 entrance fee and a regulation mandating that visitors do not ascend the structure unaccompanied. However, these measures proved insufficient, as evidenced by the tragic death of a 14-year-old who jumped in front of his family.
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The first suicide from The Vessel took place in February 2020, prompting its closure the subsequent year after two more incidents occurred within a month. Criticism mounted against the operator for failing to heed calls from community leaders and suicide-prevention experts to heighten safety barriers.
Despite its allure on social media platforms like Instagram, The Vessel garnered infamy as a site of tragedy, as lamented by Curbed.
In response to concerns, developers have announced plans to reintroduce The Vessel with reinforced safety measures, including a "floor-to-ceiling steel mesh." A spokesperson for Related assured that this addition would maintain the unique experience that attracted millions of visitors worldwide.
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Peter DeSalvo Jr., whose son was the first to tragically jump from The Vessel, expressed a belief that adequate safeguards could have prevented the deaths, including that of his son.
