Vessel reopens at NYC's Hudson Yards with new safety measures after deaths by suicide
NEW YORK -- Vessel at Hudson Yards in New York City reopened Monday with new safety features in place, after it closed in 2021 following a series of deaths by suicide.
The attraction, a 150-foot structure with climbable zigzagging stairs on Manhattan's West Side, reopened with floor-to-ceiling steel mesh barriers installed on some sections.
The top level remains closed.
"The floor-to-ceiling mesh is really the key part of the safety measures that we've added," Hudson Yards COO Andy Rosen said. "The views are still great and you can still come here and enjoy it, and we're excited to offer that opportunity again to people."
Vessel first opened in 2019, as the centerpiece of the Hudson Yards development.
"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," said Jeff T. Blau, CEO of Related Companies, which owns Hudson Yards. "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 interactive artwork closed in 2021 after several people died by suicide. It eventually re-opened, but just at the ground-level base.
"Through a closely coordinated effort with Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio, we have developed a plan to install floor-to-ceiling steel mesh on Vessel while also preserving the unique experience that has drawn millions of visitors from around the globe," a spokesperson for Hudson Yards said when the further reopening was announced in April.
Vessel was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and fabricated in Venice. Tickets are required for entrance.
Visitors line up to experience Vessel again
People lined up to experience Vessel, the crown jewel of Hudson Yards, after its three-year closure.
"It's just breathtaking. I've never seen anything like it," Tamir Stein said. "All the different angles and reflections."
Mesh netting surrounds the balconies from the second floor to the top now. Some walkways, in addition to the entire top level, are inaccessible altogether.
"That's the first thing I actually I noticed. You've got those nets going on all around," Stein said.
"We've had people coming up to us asking about Vessel and when it was going to open for the last three years. So it's a moment that I think a lot of people have been waiting for for a long time," Rosen said.
Tickets are available starting at $10. Admittance is free for New York City residents every Thursday.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call or text 988 to speak with a trained, caring counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also chat online with a counselor at 988lifeline.org.
Allen Devlin contributed to this report.