The Vessel

Overview

The Vessel is a striking, 16-story honeycomb-shaped interactive sculpture in Hudson Yards, consisting of 154 interconnected flights of stairs — 2,500 individual steps forming an elaborate, climbable public artwork.

Highlights

• Architecture: Thomas Heatherwick's dramatic design creates a massive copper-clad structure resembling an Indian stepwell or a giant bronze pinecone.
• The Climb: Ascending the interconnecting staircases offers constantly shifting perspectives of the structure itself and the surrounding Hudson Yards development.
• Photography: The repeating geometric patterns of the staircases create striking architectural photography opportunities from both inside and outside.

History

Opened in 2019 as the centerpiece of the Hudson Yards development. After temporary closures, it reopened with enhanced safety measures and requires free timed-entry reservations.

Visitor Tips

• Free Tickets: Entry requires free timed reservations booked online in advance.
• Hudson Yards Combo: Combine with The Edge observation deck, the Shed cultural center, and the High Line's northern terminus.
• Duration: 20–30 minutes.