the vessel at hudson yards reopens with suicide prevention measures

vessel, the 150-foot tall sculptural monument at new york‘s hudson yards, is set to reopen today (friday, may 28 2021) with new suicide prevention measures in place. designed by heatherwick studio, the climbable structure was temporarily closed to the public in january after three people took their own lives from the building.

image by michael moran for related-oxford (also main image)

after months of consultation with experts, the developer of hudson yards, related companies, has decided not to raise the height of the barriers along the buildings 154 flights of stairs and 80 landings. instead, visitors will only be permitted in pairs or groups in a bid to increase safety and prevent vulnerable people from climbing the building alone. there will also be triple the amount of security and staff working at the vessel will be trained to look out for signs that someone may be suicidal or considering self-harm, according to the new york times.

image by michael moran for related-oxford

despite the raft of new measures, not everyone is happy with the decision not to build a physical suicide prevention barrier. lowell d. kern, the chairman of local community board, community board 4, told the times, ‘we don’t think this is good enough. the only way to prevent future tragedies is to raise the height of the barriers.’

previously free, visitors to the vessel will now have to purchase $10 entry tickets, which are available from today. in a further attempt to discourage any more tragic indicents, each ticket will bear this message from the born this way foundation: ‘each of you matter to us, and to so many others’. 

image by michael moran for related-oxford