30 Hudson Yards in New York – Explore the Hudson Yards Tower
30 Hudson Yards in New York is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city and is located in Midtown Manhattan. Hudson Yards Tower was constructed as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment program and is situated near Penn Station, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen. Hudson Yards’ height has been measured at 395 meters, making it the sixth-tallest skyscraper in New York City! Let’s take a look at the history and architecture of 30 Hudson Yards in New York to find out more about this beautiful and impressive skyscraper.
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An Exploration of Hudson Yards Tower
| Architect | Kohn Pederson Fox (est. 1976) |
| Date Completed | 2019 |
| Height | 395 meters |
| Location | Manhattan, New York City, United States |
30 Hudson Yards in New York features an observation deck that juts out from the 100th story and also includes an event space and bar on the 101st story. Opened in March 2020, the observation deck is the second-highest deck which features a transparent floor at 335 meters high, beaten only by Madiera’s Skywalk. From this point of the Hudson Yards Tower one can enjoy views of New Jersey in the distance as well as the neighboring boroughs.
The History of 30 Hudson Yards in New York
The groundbreaking ceremony for the tower’s construction was held on the 4th of December, 2012. Initial construction work concentrated on erecting a platform that would cover the majority of the Eastern Rail Yard, serve as the foundation for most of Phase One, and enable the Gateway Rail Tunnel development to pass beneath with a clear path. The platform of the tower is supported by caissons dug below through Manhattan schist, a type of very hard bedrock. Tutor Perini Building Corp. was then granted a US$510 million contract to construct the building’s platform on the 12th of December, 2013.
Time Warner confirmed in 2013 that it would relocate most of its operations to 30 Hudson Yards in New York, leaving its original head offices at the Time Warner Center.
It would occupy half of the tower, from the 38th story down. The building developers secured a $690 million loan from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and CIBC in mid-2015, allowing construction to begin. Hudson Yards tower’s first few aboveground stories were completed by January 2016, and the building of the viewing platform started in April 2018. The deck was almost complete by the middle of 2018. WarnerMedia approached Adam Spies and Douglas Harmon in January 2019, to locate a buyer who would sell their office condo and enable the corporation to lease it back—a transaction known as a sale-leaseback. WarnerMedia’s office condo encompassed more than 1.4 million square feet on stories 16 through 51, accounting for almost 60% of the 90-story skyscraper. After negotiating a 15-year lease for 1.5 million square feet, WarnerMedia conducted a leaseback, selling their property for $2.2 billion one month later.
The Architecture of Hudson Yards Tower
The building was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, with Jaros, Baum & Bolles providing MEP engineering services, and Thornton Tomasetti serving as the principal structural engineer. With regard to 30 Hudson Yards’ height, the tower was originally meant to be 408 meters tall, but it was eventually reduced to 390 meters tall, rendering it the project’s highest building. The WarnerMedia area includes a canteen, a two-story theater and cinema, a fitness center, and an outdoor deck.
The lobby of the skyscraper will also eventually include art by Jaume Plensa, a Spanish artist which will consist of 11 stainless steel spheres suspended from the ceiling to signify world unity and cultural variety.
30 Hudson Yards is a mixed-use building with a wide range of different sorts of facilities. The office tower is situated on the tower’s eastern side and the residential tower is situated on the western side of the tower. High-end amenities inside 30 Hudson Yards in New York include a spa, fitness center, swimming pool, and private dining rooms. On the lower stories, there is also a variety of upscale retail outlets and restaurants. Furthermore, the tower has a variety of environmentally friendly elements, such as energy-efficient systems, to assist lessen its environmental impact.
Criticisms of the Tower’s Architecture
The problem with Hudson Yards’ architecture, according to many of its detractors, is that there is no contrast – there is nothing out of the ordinary. The mega project was constructed by an all-star design team, yet it’s difficult to distinguish the difference between the commercial and the creative in the end. One of the most significant criticisms made regarding the structure is its impact on the Hudson River shoreline.
Critics claim that the structure and the Hudson Yards construction as a whole have obstructed public access to the riverfront and produced an “urban canyon” effect, in which tall buildings prevent views and sunshine from reaching street level. Another source of disagreement is the building’s position within the Hudson Yards development. Some believe that the project is detached from the city’s other neighborhoods and favors the interests of rich people and companies rather than the larger community. The design of the tower has also been questioned, with some claiming that it is unimaginative, impersonal, and devoid of architectural individuality.
The Edge Observation Deck
The skyscraper has a 340-meter-tall open observation deck called The Edge, which is located on the 100th and 101st stories. On the 100th story, a cantilevered outdoor deck protrudes 24 meters south of the structure, affording spectacular views of the Hudson River and Manhattan. It is the Western Hemisphere’s second-tallest outdoor viewing platform and New York City’s second-highest observation deck. Visitors can safely observe the streets and roofs below by leaning through the 2.7-meter-high clear glass barrier that is angled 6.6 degrees outward.
It also has a 20.9-meter squared glass triangle in the flooring with views that continue down 345 meters to the street below.
On the eastern edge of the terrace, there is also a huge outdoor stairway. The observation deck opened to the public on the 11th of March, 2020, however, it was forced to close two days later because of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City. It once again reopened to the public on the 2nd of September, 2020. It was revealed in October that 30 Hudson Yards in New York would house a new attraction called “City Climb at Edge”, which would allow guests to scale an outdoor stairway situated at the summit of the tower’s crown. The climb, which opened to the public on the 9th of November, 2021, is the world’s tallest open-air building climb.
Constructed as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Program, this tower is ranked as the sixth-largest skyscraper in New York City. It functions as both office spaces and residences, and also features a renowned observation deck. Although enjoyed by those who work and live in the actual building, many have criticized it for blocking views and only serving the interests of the wealthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project?
The Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project is a major real estate development venture in New York City, that is positioned in the Hudson Yards area on the west side of Manhattan. As one of the greatest private real estate projects in the country, the project aims for the development of a number of new structures, including homes, businesses, and offices, as well as open areas, cultural institutions, and parks. 30 Hudson Yards Tower is among the structures erected by the project. The project’s goal is to develop a new mixed-use community that will offer citizens of New York City homes, job opportunities, and services. Expanding the subway line to the station is also part of the plan, improving the area’s access to transit.
What Is the Edge at Hudson Yards Tower?
The Edge is an observation deck, which is situated on the Hudson Yards’ tower’s 100th story and provides 360-degree panoramas of the city, making it one of the tallest viewing platforms in the western hemisphere. One floor above The Edge is a space for events, and there is also a staircase that brave people can climb right to the top. It also features a transparent flooring section that allows visitors to peer all the way down to the street below. However, if you are afraid of heights, you might want to give this part a miss! 30 Hudson Yards’ height is 390 meters.
What Is 30 Hudson Yards in New York?
30 Hudson Yards is a massive skyscraper located in Manhattan. It was built as part of a redevelopment program that wanted to revitalize that part of the neighborhood. It comprises office spaces as well as various residential apartments. These range from one to three-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses. There is also a range of amenities for the residents such as exclusive dining areas, a pool, a gym, and a spa. The building also houses a few notable restaurants and high-end stores on the lower floors. Warnermedia moved from its main headquarters to the Hudson Yards Tower in 2013, taking up half of the building.
Justin van Huyssteen is a freelance writer, novelist, and academic originally from Cape Town, South Africa. At present, he has a bachelor’s degree in English and literary theory and an honor’s degree in literary theory. He is currently working towards his master’s degree in literary theory with a focus on animal studies, critical theory, and semiotics within literature. As a novelist and freelancer, he often writes under the pen name L.C. Lupus.
Justin’s preferred literary movements include modern and postmodern literature with literary fiction and genre fiction like sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and horror being of particular interest. His academia extends to his interest in prose and narratology. He enjoys analyzing a variety of mediums through a literary lens, such as graphic novels, film, and video games.
Justin is working for artincontext.org as an author and content writer since 2022. He is responsible for all blog posts about architecture, literature and poetry.
Learn more about Justin van Huyssteen and the Art in Context Team.
Cite this Article
Justin, van Huyssteen, “30 Hudson Yards in New York – Explore the Hudson Yards Tower.” Art in Context. June 13, 2023. URL: https://artincontext.org/30-hudson-yards-in-new-york/
van Huyssteen, J. (2023, 13 June). 30 Hudson Yards in New York – Explore the Hudson Yards Tower. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/30-hudson-yards-in-new-york/
van Huyssteen, Justin. “30 Hudson Yards in New York – Explore the Hudson Yards Tower.” Art in Context, June 13, 2023. https://artincontext.org/30-hudson-yards-in-new-york/.
