New York tourist sculpture to reopen with safety barriers after series of suicides

A popular tourist site in New York will reopen on Monday October 12 after a series of suicides forced it to close its doors to the public.

The Vessel, a towering, honeycomb-like sculpture in Manhattan that was popular with tourists before a series of suicides forced its closure in 2021, will reopen with new safety features.

The 150-foot (46-meter) climbable structure opened in 2019 as the centrepiece of the Hudson Yards development on Manhattan’s West Side. The sculpture with zigzagging stairs drew crowds of excited tourists, but was closed to the public in 2021 after several people took their own lives.

Related Companies, which owns Hudson Yards, confirmed on Sunday that the Vessel will reopen Monday with floor-to-ceiling steel mesh barriers installed on parts of it. Only the upper level sections that have been fitted with mesh will reopen and the top level will remain closed. Tickets are required to enter the artwork.

open image in gallery

“Not a day goes by that we don’t have visitors walking up to our staff asking where they can buy tickets and when it will reopen,” Related CEO Jeff T. Blau said in a prepared statement, “that interest hasn’t diminished during the time we’ve been closed and we’re excited to welcome guests from all around the world back to Vessel with additional safety measures in place.”

Related had announced in April that the attraction would reopen at an unspecified time this year with the steel mesh barriers.

Talking at the time Jessica Chait, the chair of the Manhattan community board, praised the upgrades but said they should have happened sooner.

“While we think it took Related four lives too many to make these physical adjustments, these are the changes we requested, which will allow for prioritizing the safety of everyone who visits the Vessel,” she said.

The Vessel was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and fabricated in Venice.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are based in the UK, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.