The highest outdoor observatory in the Western Hemisphere is about to be launched.

The Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards is scheduled to open next year. Its highlight is the unparalleled panoramic view of the city skyline. Located at over 1,100 feet (335 meters), Edge will become the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere and the fifth highest in the world upon its opening.

After a 60-second elevator ride, visitors will arrive at the 7,500-square-meter outdoor observation deck – an extension of 65 feet (nearly 20 meters) from the 100th floor of the 30 Hudson Yards tower. Featuring a glass floor, this observation deck offers visitors a panoramic view of New York City, the city that never sleeps.

In addition, Edge will feature a restaurant spanning over 929 square meters, as well as a bar and a dedicated event space.

Unique structural design

As its name suggests, Edge boasts a truly unique structure; when viewed from below, the observation deck appears to reach straight up, piercing the sky. Upon its launch, Edge will be taller than the observation deck at the Empire State Building – which is over 1,050 feet (more than 320 meters) above street level – and also taller than the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center – which is located 850 feet (approximately 259 meters) above ground level.

The 30 Hudson Yards tower was designed by architect William Pederson – a co-founder of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, one of America's largest architectural and construction firms – as part of the Hudson Yards neighborhood in Manhattan. Built on 28 acres of land in West Manhattan, Hudson Yards is the largest privately owned real estate project ever built in the United States, costing approximately $28 billion.

In addition to the Edge observation deck, the complex will also include over 100 shops and restaurants, and notably The Shed – a plaza that serves as a cultural hub, a venue for performing arts, and a beautiful public garden within the building.

Hai Hien