The Vessel is a copper-toned architectural landmark in Hudson Yards, on Manhattan’s West Side. Its honeycomb-like form is made from staircases linked by landings, creating shifting patterns of steps and open space. Walk around the base to study the structure and take photos looking up through its levels. It is close to the High Line, so you can pair a stop here with a walk along the park. Access beyond the ground level can change, so check the official website before planning to climb it.
A staircase sculpture in Hudson Yards
Completed in 2019, the Vessel was designed by British designer Thomas Heatherwick. It is part art installation and part observation structure, built as a rising pattern of interconnected staircases. Its copper-colored steel surface gives the exterior a warm tone that changes with the light.
The structure stands in Hudson Yards, a West Side Manhattan development with office and residential buildings, a shopping center, an arts center and a public plaza. The Vessel is a central feature of the neighborhood’s public space. The High Line ends nearby, making it easy to include the sculpture on a walk through this part of the city.
The scale and layout
The Vessel rises 16 stories, or about 150 feet, and contains 154 flights of stairs, around 2,500 steps and 80 platforms. The connected flights form a geometric, honeycomb-like shape. From the ground, look through the open center to see how the stairs and landings overlap; moving around the plaza gives you different views of the same structure.
The design’s many angles also make the Vessel a popular subject for photographs. A wide view can take in its overall shape, while looking upward from the base brings the stairways and platforms into focus. The surrounding plaza leaves room to step back and frame the building.
Planning access
Information about entering and climbing the Vessel is inconsistent, so do not assume that a visit includes access to the upper levels. Check the official website shortly before your trip for current entry arrangements and ticket information. The site is at 20 Hudson Yards, near the High Line and the Hudson Yards subway station.
If climbing is open, expect a substantial stair workout: the full structure has more than 2,500 steps. Comfortable shoes are useful, and storms can bring lightning alerts that restrict entry. If you cannot go inside, the exterior and the view from the plaza still make the structure easy to appreciate.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Vessel in New York City?
It is at 20 Hudson Yards in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards neighborhood, near the end of the High Line.
Can you climb the Vessel?
Access information varies. Check the official Vessel website before your visit to confirm whether climbing is available.
How many stairs does the Vessel have?
The structure has 154 flights of stairs, around 2,500 steps and 80 platforms.
When was the Vessel completed?
The Vessel was completed in 2019.
