Work is moving along on the observatory in One Vanderbilt, a 1,401-foot-tall commercial supertall in Midtown East and number four on our countdown of the tallest buildings under construction in the city. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by SL Green, the 77-story skyscraper occupies a full-block parcel immediately to the west of Grand Central Terminal. Though the $1.4 billion property has been officially open since its ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid September, the indoor-outdoor observatory dubbed The Summit isn’t due to welcome the public until October 2021.
Recent photos showcase One Vanderbilt’s dominating presence on the skyline from multiple angles. The removal of the construction crane and the continuing disassembly of the exterior hoist gradually reveal the true tapering profile and the staggered tiers of the crown. The color of the exterior changes along with the angle and quality of the light throughout the course of the day.
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
The multiple sloped roof lines of the crown are still clearly visible when looking directly up near the base.
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
The horizontal strips of terracotta wedged between the floor-to-ceiling glass panels seamlessly stretch across each floor plate and easily catch the bright sunlight between the passing clouds.
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
The clearer glass panels that sit around the first tapering setback mark the position where The Summit will be located. There also appears to be some remaining interior touches awaiting completion within the crown, and a pair of small exterior elevators are positioned on the southern profile.
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
One Vanderbilt. Photo by Michael Young
It’s likely the observatory will be accompanied by a restaurant or bar of some kind, as seen with other venues atop the city. It is known that world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud will open a restaurant at One Vanderbilt, named Le Pavillon, in the first quarter of 2021. It will occupy 11,000 square feet with impressive 60-foot ceiling heights on the southeast corner of the second floor, providing patrons views of Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building.
So far, more than 70 percent of One Vanderbilt’s office space has been leased, while the $220 million upgrade to the subterranean Midtown transit system corridor connecting to Grand Central Terminal recently opened to the public. Other public components of the project include a 14,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza on Vanderbilt Avenue, and a 4,000-square-foot public transit hall and additional ADA-accessible concourses and corridors to the Metro-North Railroad, the shuttle to Times Square, and future passageways leading to the LIRR station and the East Side Access master plan scheduled for completion in 2022.
The new public transit entrance down to Grand Central Station. Photo by Michael Young
The Summit is slated to become the second-highest outdoor observation deck in New York City and will feature sweeping panoramas of landmarks like the Empire State Building to the southwest, the World Trade Center complex in the Financial District, the slender residential supertalls along Billionaires’ Row to the north, and all of Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The view looking down toward Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Central Park, and across at the growing Hudson Yards skyline by the Hudson River are also notable sights. Below are some views YIMBY got to see back in the summer of 2019 that give a sneak peak of what to expect.
Looking north. Photo by Michael Young
Looking south. Photo by Michael Young
Looking east. Photo by Michael Young
Looking west. Photo by Michael Young
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What’s with the photos. In perusing them I noticed that the locations of the buildings relative to one another in several of them were wrong. Were these photos pasted together? Whoever you have doing this for YMBY, please rectify it. Thank you.
Explain? The photos are from many different angles. The photographer, Michael Young, is very dedicated to his work.
On each new site he visits, he takes pictures that are useful for articles on other buildings. It is real dedication to craft.
Looking North twice? Last image is looking West
When it’s completed, could be added to a guide to observatories of NY! Maybe offer a package ticket… Empire State Building,
One World Center, Hudson Yards, RCA building, etc.? Probably be alot of people interested.
Count me as one. ?
The tower top massing has turned out better than the renderings. It almost has an 80s post-modern design. The seemingly random different floor heights is less successful.
Overall the building enhances the skyline and its very central location will always be in more demand than that silver box circus at the end of the 7 train.
One Vanderbilt is probably the best office building of the century, maybe apart from One World Trade Center. Then again, it’s a disgrace that OWTC hardly has any tenants or even the space for tenants because of the mechanical floors. But back to One Vanderbilt, I can’t wait for The Summit to open. I think it’ll probably one of the greatest observatories in the City actually, at least view-wise. Man, what a great building. And what great photos by Michael Young as well.
One World Trade has 3 million sq. ft. of rentable space.
Turned out better than the renderings and is an instant landmark in NYC’s skyline. That eastern view from the Summit is epic and will be a must see before the Commodore blocks the view Chrysler.
There is also a small glass elevator that travels from the observation desk up through the mechanical penthouse floors, up through the roof, and all the way up the exterior of the spire. The spectacular premium amenity attraction.
What an awkward pile of s**t. Massing is strange. The top looks ridiculous. And you have people singing praise. Next will be an equally awkward Commodore…yeah lets block out the world reknowned Chrysler Building from view with mediocre towers that claim height but no grace or beauty.
It turned out to be a very good tower overall, and the summit is an interesting counterpoint to ESB and Chrysler.
I agree Chris – this is a really ugly tower from top to bottom, with no redeeming features at all.
Pile of awkward s**t with silly vanity-height spire.
The silhouette is great like a modern empire state. The zig zag diagonal stripe facade on top with the horizontal stripe looks messy and takes away from the awesome shape of the building.
Why are there stairs leading to the subway instead of escalators?
Stairs are obsolete in this century, slow down crowds, and are difficult to use for an increasingly aging population with arthritis and other issues (an elevator can never efficiently move large numbers of people).
The appearance of the glass at the observation deck kind of ruins the flow of the building imo. It somehow makes the crown appear as a last minute added piece rather than a part of the whole building. Otherwise it is a beautiful building that should have kept its original 1501 ft height. Soon enough it will be lost in the crowd with the coming developments at the Grand Hyatt and the new Chase HQ.
An impressive building
Well done
Awesome photo from Bryant P. Thx M. Young
Photo “Looking North” is actually “Looking North-West” apparently to avoid looking at 432 Park. Why would that be?
One Vanderbilt is assimilate to One Bryant Park building, known better as BofA Tower… both on same street, 42nd, and almost similar distance from Fifth Avenue… Even usable office space almost the same, and even usable numbers of floors, 58 vs 54. Both have raised their elevation by spires…