Glass Elevator Ride: Have you ever wanted to go up the side of one of New York’s tallest skyscrapers in a glass elevator?
The Ascent elevator, which will climb 1,210 feet (369 meters) up the exterior of the building, will have breathtaking views of the capital.
Levitation, a series of translucent glass boxes that jut out of the tower, suspending visitors 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, is an option for those looking for something much more adventurous.
Both will be based on the four-level, 65,000-square-foot entertainment area and an observation deck that will open at the top of One Vanderbilt, a $3.3 billion tower that will be the fourth tallest building in New York City as it opens at 1,401 feet. One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the world, standing at 1,776 meters.
Summit One Vanderbilt will feature an Après cafe, a terrace lounge, food vendors, and “the world’s largest urban outdoor alpine meadow.”
Meanwhile, the team at Kenzo Digital, a luxury emerging technology creative firm, has planned an immersive art installation for the observation deck that will be revealed shortly.
In a tweet, Marc Holliday, chairman and CEO of SL Green, said, “We have created a destination that promises an immersive experience that will be known for a lifetime with the finest, amplified views in all of New York City.”
“Summit One Vanderbilt is awe-inspiring, mystical, and must be lived to be fully appreciated,” he continued.
“It’s an exclusive, entertaining location that New Yorkers and visitors from around the country and the world would want to return to again and again.”
The announcement comes just days after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio launched a $30 million tourism promotion plan for the region, which saw tourist figures drop from 66.6 million in 2019 to 22.3 million in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company, the agency that will start the “NYC Reawaken” initiative in June, the attraction’s launch will give the city a lift as it continues to rebuild.
“New York City will be alive with excitement this fall,” Dixon said in a tweet. “Summit One Vanderbilt is an amazing addition to its attractions for locals and tourists.”
The Empire State Building opened a new 102nd-floor observation deck in 2019, which is 1,250 feet above ground level.
