The Edge, the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, is slated to open to the public in March 2020 in New York City.
Visitors will behold views from 100 stories high— literally the tallest *outdoor* view in Manhattan. One World Trade is currently the highest building in NYC at 1,776 feet with 104 floors, and the observatory is located on the 100, 101 and 102 floors. However, there is no outdoor viewing area at One World (though the indoor views are still stunning!).
The Edge will extend 80 feet from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, a glittery office space building, adding to Manhattan’s already tantalizing skyline views.
Last week, I stood on the rooftop of the new Eugene condos in Hudson Yards (the new, blinged-out neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side known for The Vessel). From the 51st floor, the 360-degree views unfurled for miles.
today's office view ? #NYC pic.twitter.com/SKHofemJPQ
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I saw all the way down to the Financial District, the coastline up the Hudson River, the skyline in New Jersey, Rockefeller Center and everything in between. I took in the stunning rooftops of other buildings, helipads, Madison Square Garden, and the notorious traffic below. So I can’t even imagine views 50 stories higher than this!
Tickets for The Edge will cost $36, and it’s destined to be one of the top attractions in NYC. Because it’s new and modern, it will likely overwhelm visitors in a way that Empire State Building or Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center simply cannot (unless they go through major renovations like Seattle did with the Space Needle).
The Edge will feature “never before seen views” of the city that span up to 80 miles from angled glass walls and even a glass floor. Currently, the only glass floor in NYC is at Arlo Hotel in NoMad. The glass floor is on the 31st floor of the hotel’s rooftop.
There will be also be outdoor skyline steps from the 100th to the 101st floor, which has 70 glass panels (each weighing 1,400 pounds!). A visit to the edge will be like stepping in the sky.
Visitors can expect a champagne bar that serves champers, signature craft cocktails and light bites, all of which can be enjoyed indoors or outdoor on the sky deck. The Edge will also feature Peak, a restaurant, cafe and event space on the 101st floor.
The Edge was a massive, impressive feat, weighing in at 765,000 pounds and comprising 15 sections bolted together and anchored to the east and south sides of the building, according to the website.
Hudson Yards is a relatively new, 28-acre neighborhood between the High Line and Midtown. There are 14 acres of public parks and open space, as well as interactive public landmarks, like Vessel. Equinox Fitness opened its first hotel here in July 2019, however the hotel takes up floors 24 to 38 of a 92-story building. Because this is quite low, and it’s surrounded by other buildings, it does not have crazy views (it does look right at The Vessel and the Jersey side, which is fantastic).
Montage Hotels & Resorts’ new lifestyle property, Pendry Manhattan West, will open in nearby Manhattan West in 2021. With 21 floors, the hotel will offer 164 guest rooms and will be the next hotel to open in this area.
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Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.