Back in April 2022, NYC’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved plans that would provide the Top of the Rock observation deck with several upgrades, one being The Beam that would lift visitors 800 feet above NYC, and as of today, December 1st, it’s now open!
The Beam is a thrilling experience which recreates the famous 1932 photograph “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” in which 11 ironworkers are seen perched on a steel beam eating lunch while 30 Rockefeller Plaza was under construction.
Now, 91 years later, The Beam has returned to Rockefeller Center for an incredible, interactive experience on the 69th floor.
Thrill seeking visitors will be strapped into seats on a recreated beam and lifted 12 feet above the observation deck platform. The Beam will then rotate 180º, providing spectacular views of NYC’s beloved Central Park before descending.
After soaring more than 800 feet in the sky for a once in a lifetime photo opportunity, guests can warm up inside with hot cocoa and light bites from the Top of the Rock’s new dining experience, The Weather Room.
Tickets are on sale now priced at $25 per person as an add-on feature for Top of the Rock General Admission and Express Pass ticketholders. Tickets include a digital photo that recreates the famous image.
The Beam is a part of the total reimagination of Rockefeller Center, which will dramatically enhance the visitor experience at the iconic observation deck.
Next year, in 2024, Tishman Speyer will unveil another experience, the Sky Lift on the 70th Floor, which will lift visitors 30 feet above the uppermost rooftop upon a circular glass platform, giving them 360-degree views of the city.
A new Mezzanine Level will also be unveiled, telling the story of Rockefeller Center’s history via vivid interactive exhibits, a new theater experience, digital models, and other cutting-edge technologies.
Last year, LPC Commissioner Sarah Carroll stated how Top of the Rock is one of the city’s most important landmarks, attracting residents and visitors to the area and encouraging new businesses to open nearby. Due to this, she believes that these new additions could help potentially boost tourism.
Other upgrades announced last year include transforming the ticketing booth to the Top of the Rock experience into a storefront, upgrading the lighting in the lobby, and adding adding to the 70th floor a rooftop beacon, a kinetic globe, and replacing the existing red tiled ground with a celestial tile mosaic.
Tickets to The Beam are on sale now, and can be purchased here.