Experience design studio GSM Project has announced it will design the upcoming observation deck attraction at One Vanderbilt, a 1,400ft (426m) skyscraper scheduled to open in New York City in 2020.
The indoor-outdoor platform will offer panoramic views of the cityscape, including nearby landmarks the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.
Located more than 1,000ft (304,8m) above the ground, it has been dubbed “the most exciting observation deck experience in the world” by Robert Schiffer, managing director of SL Green Realty, the company developing the project, although few details about what the experience will involve have been released.
One Vanderbilt, which has been designed by architecture studio Kohn Pedersen Fox, will be located just west of Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal. While predominantly to provide office space in the heart of New York, the project includes a public realm offering.
The base of the building will become part of the spatial sequence of Grand Central and a doorstep to the city, greeting thousands of commuters daily with retail and cultural facilities. Visitors will be able to ascend the tower to enjoy the observation deck.
“This is an incredible opportunity to take the observation experience to the next level” said Yves Mayrand, president and chief creative officer of GSM Project. “Being connected to such an iconic hub and landmark, in a location that will offer the best views of all of New York City – and starting with a clean slate offered by a new build – we really have the freedom to create an integrated and holistic experience for visitors."
