Hudson Yards Sky Deck Debuts As Highest In Country

HUDSON YARDS, NY — Hudson Yards' open-air observation deck welcomed its first visitors Wednesday, becoming the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, according to developers.

The Edge offers visitors unobstructed views of both Manhattan skyscrapers and the Hudson River from a platform that juts out 80 feet from the 30 Hudson Yards development. At 1,131 feet in the air, The Edge is a one-of-a-kind attraction in New York City.

"You've never experienced New York like this before," Jason Horkin, executive director of Hudson Yards Experiences, said in a statement. "Stepping onto Edge is like walking out into the sky."

Tickets for the observatory are comparably priced to similar experiences at skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. Adults will pay $36 when buying tickets online or $38 at the skyscraper. New York City residents get a slight discount, with tickets running $34.

Special ticket packages that offer add-ons such as flexible entry time, a glass of champagne and a photo book run up to $90 per guest.

Architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates designed the observation deck, which is made out of 15 different sections that weigh between 35,000 and 100,000 pounds. The sections are bolted together and anchored to the east and south sides of the skyscraper.

The viewing platform on the building's 100th floor connects to a champagne bar on the 101st floor via an outdoor staircase. The bar is operated by the hospitality group Rhubarb, which has also been hired to run a 10,000-square-foot restaurant called "Peak" inside the development. The business will be operated by the hospitality group Rhubarb and will be the group's first venture in New York City. Rhubarb operates more than 70 venues in London, according to its website.