Vessel to reopen in New York on Friday with buddy system to prevent suicides
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The Vessel, the 46-metre-high viewpoint in New York‘s Hudson Yards designed by Thomas Heatherwick, will reopen on 28 May. However, no solo climbers will be allowed in an attempt to prevent further suicide deaths.
Visitors will no longer be able to go up the staircase-based attraction alone. Instead, a buddy system will require everyone to be in groups of two or more.
Only groups of two or more allowed
“Vessel was envisioned as a shared, immersive design experience,” said a spokesperson for Hudson Yards developer Related Companies.
“Requiring visitors to attend in groups of two or more significantly enhances the safety of the experience.”
Dezeen understands that Heatherwick Studio had put forward a design study for potential changes to the structure, but Vessel will reopen with the new ticketing system instead.
Related Companies has also partnered with Lady Gaga’s mental health charity Born This Way to create signage at the venue and messages on the tickets offering help to those in distress.
Three deaths at the viewpoint since 2019
Three people have died by suicide at the Vessel in three different incidents since it opened in 2019.
The attraction in Hudon Yards has been closed since a 21-year-old man jumped from the Vessel on 11 January. At the time, Related Companies told Dezeen it would consult with psychiatrists and other experts about implementing suicide-prevention strategies at the viewpoint.
A 24-year-old woman from New York died after jumping from the structure in December of 2020, and a 19-year-old man from New Jersey in February 2019, before its official opening.
Vessel is a honeycomb-shaped building formed of 154 staircases that meet at 80 landing platforms, providing 360-degree views of the Hudson Yards development and the river.
Heatherwick Studio’s other major public project in New York, a 2.4-acre park and performance venue elevated over the Hudson on concrete columns called Little Island, opened on Friday last week.
Main image is by Michael Moran for Related Companies.
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