‘The Vessel,’ Iconic Structure In NYC’s Hudson Yards, Set To Reopen With Meshed Netting After Four Suicides

Developers have announced plans to reopen The Vessel, the giant centerpiece of New York City’s Hudson Yards development, with new safety enhancements later this year. 

The 150-foot sculpture, an architectural marvel designed by Thomas Heatherwick and constructed for $260 million, was closed three years ago after a series of tragic suicides. In addition to the criticism the structure received for its design, The Vessel was grimly dubbed a “staircase to nowhere.”

Before its closure, Hudson Yards’ controlling company, Related Companies, implemented a $10 entrance fee and a rule that mandated visitors to refrain from climbing the structure alone. However, these measures proved ineffective when a 14-year-old boy jumped from The Vessel in front of his family. The first suicide occurred in February 2020 and prompted the closure of the sculpture the following year after two additional suicides took place within a month. After its reopening, a fourth suicide occurred, which led to criticism of the operator for not implementing the requested chest-high barriers advocated by community leaders and suicide-prevention researchers.

Despite its popularity on Instagram, The Vessel has become infamous primarily for its association with tragedy.

Nevertheless, developers have now committed to reopening The Vessel later this year with enhanced safety measures, prominently featuring a “floor-to-ceiling steel mesh.” A spokesperson from Related Companies said that this modification would preserve the “unique experience that has drawn millions of visitors from around the globe.”

Peter DeSalvo Jr., the father of the first individual who jumped from The Vessel, expressed to The New York Times that “all the deaths, including that of our son, could have been prevented if adequate safeguards had been in place.”