Love it or hate it: Vessel by Thomas Heatherwick will reopen to the public soon in Hudson Yards, albeit with new protective safety nets designed to prevent visitors from jumping off.
Vessel’s reopening was first confirmed by the New York Post last Friday, and later reported on by The New York Times. The new design forebodingly recalls the suicide nets attached to buildings at Foxconn—Apple’s notorious factory complex in Shenzhen, China.
Kathleen Corless, a spokesperson for Related Companies, said the public art structure will reopen this year after “floor-to-ceiling steel mesh” has been installed on several staircases throughout the 15-story structure. In a statement, Related Companies assured that the new mesh will maintain the “unique experience that has drawn millions of visitors from around the globe.” The updated design was a “closely coordinated effort with Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio,” Related Companies continued.
The announcement follows a series of tragic suicide cases between the Vessel’s highly anticipated debut in 2019 and closure in 2021. Between those years, four individuals fell to their death at Hudson Yards, all under the age of 25. In January 2020, the first suicide case happened, followed by another in February, and then again in December.
After the third instance, Related Companies, the developer of the site, took precautionary measures to prevent further tragic instances from happening again. The amount of employees monitoring the site was tripled, staff underwent training so as to identify potential suicide cases, and a new visitors policy was implemented that required all guests to ascend Vessel with at least one partner. But tragically, the preventive measures were to no avail: A 14-year-old died there in March 2021. Vessel was closed shortly after.
Vessel—whose form has drawn comparisons from lamb shawarma, beehive, to pinecone—will now feature protective safety nets so as to prevent further deaths from happening. But an exact date as to when the Vessel will reopen hasn’t been issued.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24/7 at 800-273-8255, or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.