As first reported by CBS News, NYC’s The Vessel will reopen to the public later this year.
Hudson Yards’ towering climbable art installation The Vessel first opened to the public back in March 2019.
Standing 150-feet-tall with 154 intricate flights of stairs–accounting for almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings–the installation immediately became a hit among New Yorkers and tourists alike.
The installation, which was completely free to visit, closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19 before reopening in September of that same year. Though (**trigger warning**) just four months later the installation closed once again in January 2021 following multiple heartbreaking suicides.
The Vessel eventually reopened once again in March 2021 though only at the at the ground-level base and with new safety measures in place–admission was now $10, restricted to groups of two people or more, and security was tripled.
CBS writes that a spokesperson for Hudson Yards stated:
Through a closely coordinated effort with Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio, we have developed a plan to install floor-to-ceiling steel mesh on Vessel while also preserving the unique experience that has drawn millions of visitors from around the globe.
By the end of this year the first two levels will be fully open, along with the portions of the upper levels that have new barriers.
Since it’s impossible to install the steel mesh (which cannot be cut or removed by visitors) at the very top of the structure, the top level will remain closed.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-8255.