Midtown, Manhattan is about to get a skyscraper that feels straight out of an amusement park. Meet The Torch, a 52-story, 1,067-foot-tall supertall that’s set to gift NYC its first-ever glass-tube drop ride, letting thrill-seekers free-fall 300 feet above Eighth Avenue. Because why settle for just another observation deck when you can add a heart-pounding plunge into the mix?
Designed by ODA Architecture and SLCE for Extell Development, The Torch will tower over the Theatre District at 740 Eighth Avenue, between West 45th and 46th Streets. The mixed-use skyscraper–first announced in 2023 and now back under construction–will span 875,372 square feet and house:
- An 825-room hotel
- A public outdoor observation deck
- An upper-floor restaurant
- A VIP lounge
- A pool deck for hotel guests
- Lower-level retail space
But the main attraction? A one-of-a-kind thrill ride inside the skyscraper’s signature torch-shaped stem. Riders will ascend 300 feet in transparent glass tubes located in the supertall’s signature stemlike column before dropping back down during a 90-second adrenaline rush.
Extell suggested that adding a vertical-drop ride to the building not only explores a whole new realm of hotel hospitality, but also attract tourists alongside “a few jaded New Yorkers.”
A Spiraling Crown Inspired by Lady Liberty 🗽
Architecturally, The Torch lives up to its name. At its peak, a 500-foot spiraling crown wrapped in a pleated glass curtain wall with open-air cutouts will glow above Midtown, inspired by the Statue of Liberty’s torch. Spotlights will illuminate the dramatic upper levels, and glass-clad boxes will allow visitors to peer out over Midtown and down toward the Hudson River.
The tower’s bold design also incorporates angular setbacks and greenery-filled ledges, a nod to Hudson Yards’ Vessel.
When Will The Torch Open?
Plans for the building were first conceptualized twelve years ago after Extell Development firm acquired the property from Boston Properties and Stephen Ross’ Related Companies.
The site at 740 Eighth Avenue sat quiet for quite some time after initial delays, but construction has officially resumed. While the original timeline targeted a 2027 completion, no revised date has been confirmed. If all goes smoothly, the skyscraper could hit street level this summer and top out next year.
Love it or Hate it, It’s Happening
The Torch joins a wave of new sky-high entertainment spaces in NYC, but it’s the first to bring a drop ride into the mix.
Of course, not everyone’s thrilled. NYC may be underwater soon, but apparently not before Midtown gets its very own 52-story skyscraper with a drop ride! Honestly, we’re still holding out hope for, you know, affordable housing.
But, like it or not, Midtown’s skyline is about to get taller, weirder, and way more adrenaline-packed.