**Trigger warning: the following article discusses suicide**
The Vessel was poised to be one of the shining treasures of the new Hudson Yards neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan, and now it will be temporarily shut down in light of recent heartbreaking tragedies.
The 150-foot-tall artistic creation by Thomas Heatherwick is comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs, almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings.
On Monday (Jan. 11), 21-year-old Franklin Washington jumped to his death, and it followed two other suicides off the structure — one just three weeks ago in December, and one in February of last year.
Their website simply states that the “Vessel is currently closed,” and the ticket reservation page has been taken down. The New York Times reported that it would be closed “until further notice.”
According to an interview with the New York Post, the company which manages the Vessel, Related Companies, is “working with psychiatrists and suicide-prevention experts to come up with plans to stem the horrific, highly public deaths.” They have also hired specially trained security guards to ascertain if a person is at risk of jumping.
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.
featured image source: Hudson Yards New York