edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere

‘edge’, the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere, has welcomed its first visitors. rising 1,100 feet (335 meters) above hudson yards, the mixed-use development on manhattan’s west side, the observation platform has been designed to ‘take visitors out of their comfort zone’. located on the 100th floor of the site’s tallest building, the deck has been conceived as an open plaza complete with a partially glass floor and angled glass walls. the platform, as well as the rest of the skyscraper, has been designed by KPF, with rockwell group responsible for the building’s interiors.

image courtesy of related-oxford

edge is accessed via ‘the shops & restaurants’, hudson yards’ indoor shopping mall. visitors are first greeted with an immersive multimedia arrival experience, designed by LAB at rockwell group, before a 52 second elevator ride brings visitors to the 7,500 square foot (700 square meter) outdoor viewing area. extending out almost 80 feet (24 meters) from the building’s 100th floor, the sky deck reveals panoramic views of new york famous skyline and beyond — a distance encompassing more than 80 miles (129 kilometers).

image courtesy of related-oxford

at the heart of the sky deck, guests are dared to traverse a glass floor that offers a view of the city streets 100 stories below. visitors are also encouraged to lean against the deck’s nine-foot-tall (2.7 meter) glass walls, which are angled outwards to maximize views. an even higher perspective is offered from an outdoor stair and seating area that allows guests to look out over the glass from a seated position.

image © designboom

bolted together and anchored to the east and south sides of the building, the sky deck comprises 15 main sections, each weighing between 35,000 and 100,000 pounds (16-45 metric tons). ‘most observation decks are on a terrace, they’re part of the building, but here we did something very different,’ explains marianne kwok, director at KPF. ‘we didn’t want to scaffold up and build it and then take the scaffold down. it was manufactured in italy, and we put together the whole thing in italy to test it. then it was taken apart and shipped over. each section was then craned into place. it was constructed in such a short time because it was almost prefabrciated.’

image © designboom

‘we really wanted to create something that would give you a different view of the city and a different experience,’ continues marianne kwok. ‘so there are no metal supports on the glass, and the glass is held slightly apart so that a cell phone camera can be put between and you can get a clean photo.’ one level up, the 101st floor is home to a restaurant, bar, and event space. the project’s light show, which will take place through april, was designed by l’observatoire international, who also designed the overall lighting of the deck. edge is open from 8am to 12 midnight, 365 days per year.

image courtesy of related-oxford

project info:

name: edge
location: 100th floor of 30 hudson yards, new york
design: KPF (building), rockwell group (interiors)
status: open to public from march 11, 2020
times: 8am to 12 midnight, 365 days per year
price: adult admission starts at $36