Another View of New York City Coming Soon

Earlier last week, New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously approved the construction of an observation deck on the north and south terraces on the 61^st floor of the iconic, Jazz-era Chrysler Building. The building’s former observation deck on the 71^st floor was shut in 1945.

A child of New York City’s late-1920s real estate boom, the Chrysler Building was once the city, and the world’s, tallest skyscraper. Zoning laws passed in the early 1900s led to New York’s skyscrapers adopting unique silhouettes—like the buildings’ street-side walls being set back—which also played a role in Chrysler’s now-renowned Art Deco style. In 1978, the building was designated as a New York City landmark, which meant that any exterior construction needed to be approved by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

One of the city's most iconic buildings is getting an observation deck for the first time in 75 years: https://t.co/jP1329MYqx

— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) May 22, 2020

In 2018, the Chrysler building changed ownership for a modest $150 million and new owner Aby Rosen announced plans to restore the building to its former glory. The plans for this observation deck come just a few months after Hudson Yards unveiled the highest outdoor observatory in the western hemisphere, called the Edge.

While the city is still under considerable restrictions, the timeline for the project has not been released. The north and south terraces, however, will need to be revamped with new glass panels to replace the current metal handrails. This project will considerably open the building up to tourists because, until now, Chrysler functioned as little more than an office building.

We don’t know about you, but we’re certainly excited about getting to experience the sprawling city of New York from atop yet another of its iconic buildings. The Chrysler Building is currently the world’s 11^th tallest building.