Vessel (TKA) is a structure and visitor attraction built as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The TKA abbreviation in the structure's name stands for "Temporarily Known As". Built to plans by the British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the elaborate honeycomb-like structure rises 16 stories and consists of 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings for visitors to climb. Vessel is the main feature of the 5-acre (2.0 ha) Hudson Yards Public Square. Funded by Hudson Yards developer Related Companies, its final cost is estimated to have been $200 million.
The concept of Vessel was unveiled to the public on September 14, 2016. Construction began in April 2017, with the pieces being manufactured in Italy and shipped to the United States. Vessel topped out in December 2017 with the installation of its highest piece, and it opened to the public on March ...Read more
Vessel (TKA) is a structure and visitor attraction built as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The TKA abbreviation in the structure's name stands for "Temporarily Known As". Built to plans by the British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the elaborate honeycomb-like structure rises 16 stories and consists of 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings for visitors to climb. Vessel is the main feature of the 5-acre (2.0 ha) Hudson Yards Public Square. Funded by Hudson Yards developer Related Companies, its final cost is estimated to have been $200 million.
The concept of Vessel was unveiled to the public on September 14, 2016. Construction began in April 2017, with the pieces being manufactured in Italy and shipped to the United States. Vessel topped out in December 2017 with the installation of its highest piece, and it opened to the public on March 15, 2019. Upon its opening, Vessel received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its prominent placement within Hudson Yards, and others deriding the structure as extravagant. Vessel was also initially criticized for its restrictive copyright policy regarding photographs of the structure, as well as its lack of accessibility for disabled visitors, although both issues were subsequently addressed.
In January 2021, following three suicides at the Vessel, it was closed to the public indefinitely. The Vessel reopened in May 2021, then indefinitely closed again after another suicide two months later. It has not been publicly accessible since.
In an interview with Fortune magazine, Ross said that he "wanted to commission something transformational, monumental", which led to the concept for Vessel.[1] Ross was looking to five unnamed artists who were renowned for designing similar plazas, then asked them for in-depth proposals. He rejected all of the plans, at which point a colleague introduced Ross to Heatherwick.[2] Six weeks after they talked, Ross accepted Heatherwick's proposal immediately because it "had everything I wanted".[2] In an interview with designboom, Heatherwick said that his design for Vessel originated from a childhood experience when he "fell in love with an old discarded flight of wooden stairs outside a local building site".[3] The media first reported Heatherwick's commissioning in October 2013.[4][5]
The concept of Vessel was unveiled to the public on September 14, 2016,[1] in an event attended by hundreds of people including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.[6][2] Hosted by Anderson Cooper, the event featured a performance from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater that evoked the interlocking design of Vessel's staircases.[2]
In April 2017, the first major piece of the sculpture was installed at Hudson Yards.[7] Construction started on April 18[8] with the installation of the first 10 pieces of the 75-piece structure.[9] It was projected for completion in the spring of 2019,[10] with the other 65 pieces arriving in five batches.[11] The structure topped out in December 2017.[12][13] In October 2018, it was announced that the opening of Vessel had been scheduled for March 15, 2019, and that tickets to enter the structure would become available in February.[14] By January 2019, Hudson Yards officials were soliciting public suggestions for a rename of Vessel. Though the structure had no official name, the Hudson Yards website called it the "Hudson Yards Staircase".[15] Vessel opened as scheduled on March 15, 2019.[16][17]
Vessel was criticized for its associated photo policies at the time of its opening. Hudson Yards, the owner of Vessel, claimed ownership of all pictures and videos taken of Vessel, and reserves the right to use any photos or videos taken for commercial purposes without paying royalty fees. This privileged use of photos and videos by Hudson Yards, a private company, has been criticized because Hudson Yards has benefited from $4.5 billion in tax revenue.[18] After criticism emerged about Vessel's copyright policy, Hudson Yards modified the policy so visitors would have ownership of photos of Vessel.[19][20][21]
SuicidesOn February 1, 2020, a 19-year-old man jumped from the sixth floor of the structure and died; the media reported this as the first such incident involving the Vessel.[22][23][24] On December 22, 2020, a 24-year-old woman jumped from the top of the structure and also died.[25][26] A third fatality occurred less than a month later on January 11, 2021, when a 21-year-old man jumped from the Vessel.[27][28] Following the third death, the structure was indefinitely closed while the Related Companies consulted with experts on a strategy to prevent future suicides.[29][30] Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods hired a suicide prevention expert, who suggested adding netting or raising the glass barriers.[31] However, no changes were ultimately made to the barriers.[31][32]
Vessel was reopened at the end of May 2021, but all visitors were required to be accompanied by at least one other person. In addition, after the first hour of each day, all visitors above five years old had to pay $10 for a ticket. Tickets for the first hour of the day, as well as tickets for children five and under, were free.[33][34] Revenue from ticket sales was to directly fund additional safety upgrades.[34] Two months after Vessel reopened, on July 29, 2021, a 14-year-old boy jumped to his death while he was with his family.[31][35] After the fourth death, Vessel was again closed indefinitely.[31] Stephen Ross said at the time he was considering closing the structure permanently.[36][37] By August 2022, Hudson Yards officials were testing safety nets around Vessel in preparation for the structure's possible reopening.[38]
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