Summit One Vanderbilt, a new, innovative destination that combines views, curated multi-sensory experiences, and cutting-edge technology, is set to open on Oct. 21.
The project occupies 65,000 sf spread across four levels in the crown of the 1,401-foot-tall, KPF-designed One Vanderbilt. An all-glass enclosed elevator, dubbed Ascent, travels up the outside of the building at 1,210 feet high to provide views of New York City while Levitation, fully transparent glass sky boxes that jut out of the building, suspend guests 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue. The Summit, meanwhile, features an outdoor bar, seating areas, and the highest urban outdoor alpine meadow in the world.
An immersive art installation, designed by Kenzo Digital, will bring a new type of storytelling to the project. The installation takes the canvas of an observation deck and elevates it into a euphoric experience. “Using materiality, lighting design, sound design, production design, and animation, this immersive experience will awaken your senses, transform your perception of New York, and reimagine your relationship to nature,” said Kenzo Digital, Artist and CEO, Kenzo Digital Immersive, in a release. “It will be the ultimate example of the democratization of art - a revelatory experience regardless of age, origin, or walk of life.”
Snøhetta designed the interior spaces as a sensory urban experience that lifts visitors into the sky. The observatory and cultural space were designed as a journey through light, sound, and art with views across all five boroughs and beyond. The project builds a series of interconnected experiences that begins in the vaulted halls of Grand Central Terminal below, with the journey from station to sky culminating in Summit One Vanderbilt.
“In addition to the exciting artistic works at The Summit, Snøhetta has created an elegant interior design that naturally guides visitors through an uplifting experience. From the spacious and calm entrance hall to the dramatic lobbies above, Snøhetta has designed a continuous yet evolving adventure,” said Craig Dykers, Founding Partner Architect of Snøhetta, in a release. “This culminates with the landscape design of one of the world’s highest gardens at the top of The Summit. Each space is sensitively considered to ensure the optimum experience within a changing dynamic as one is transported from the ground to the sky and back.”
Additionally, Summit One Vanderbilt will feature multiple bars, an all-day cafe, and food kiosks. The culinary offerings will be led by Union Square Events.
Related Stories
| Jan 20, 2015
Avery Associates unveils plans for London's second-tallest tower
The 270-meter tower, dubbed the No. 1 Undershaft, will stand next to the city's "Cheesegrater" building.
| Jan 13, 2015
A new record: 97 buildings taller than 200 meters completed in 2014
Last year was a record-breaking year for high-rise construction, with 97 tall buildings completed worldwide, including 11 "supertalls," according to a new report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
| Jan 9, 2015
Technology and media tenants, not financial companies, fill up One World Trade Center
The financial sector has almost no presence in the new tower, with creative and media companies, such as magazine publisher Conde Nast, dominating the vast majority of leased space.
| Dec 28, 2014
Robots, drones, and printed buildings: The promise of automated construction
Building Teams across the globe are employing advanced robotics to simplify what is inherently a complex, messy process—construction.
| Dec 27, 2014
'Core-first' construction technique cuts costs, saves time on NYC high-rise project
When Plaza Construction first introduced the concept of "core first" in managing the construction of a major office building, the procedure of pouring concrete prior to erecting a steel frame had never been done in New York City.
| Dec 22, 2014
Studio Gang to design Chicago’s third-tallest skyscraper
The first U.S. real-estate investment by The Wanda Group, owned by China’s richest man, will be an 88-story, 1,148-ft-tall mixed-use tower designed by Jeanne Gang.
| Dec 18, 2014
11 new highs for tall buildings: CTBUH recaps the year's top moments in skyscraper construction
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat cherrypicked the top moments from 2014, including a record concrete pour, a cautionary note about high-rise development, and two men's daring feat.
| Dec 17, 2014
11 predictions for high-rise construction in 2015
In its annual forecast, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat predicts that 2015 will be the "Year of the Woodscraper," and that New York’s troubled B2 modular high-rise project will get back on track.
| Dec 16, 2014
'Wedding dress' tower to be tallest in Africa
The $1 billion tower will have 114 stories, alluding to the 114 chapters of the Koran.
| Dec 16, 2014
Architect Eli Attia sues Google over tall building technology
Attia and tech company Max Sound Corp. have brought a lawsuit against Google because of Flux, a Google X-developed startup launched in 2014. Flux creates software to design environmentally-friendly buildings in a cost-effective way.
