New York's Observatories

[Amanita]

That actually looks pretty cool!

[NYguy]

^ Yeah, they’re giving us a lot of cool options to explore buildings and views. Times Square is probably best viewed from above.

[NYguy]

For anyone wondering why there are so many observation decks open and planned in Midtown, it's what the people want.


NOVEMBER 2, 2022


1.



2. Vanderbilt




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6. 30 Hudson, viewed from Vanderbilt




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8. 30 Rock (Top of the Rock), viewed from Vanderbilt




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12. The Empire State, viewed from Vanderbilt




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14.

[Crawford]

Great pics.

Yeah, I've been to One Vanderbilt and Edge in recent months, and both were packed. Midtown could probably accommodate another half-dozen observatories in the coming years.

[dropdeaded209]

those all look jam-packed!

real money-making machines and you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck even without the added gimmicks on the new east and west side observatories.

30 Rock has got to be the best IMHO thanks to the combination of location--smack dab in the middle Midtown but with plenty of breathing room--and the sensation of being up on the true ROOF of the building, with nothing but sky above you.

at 850', it's snuggly nestled in the upper third of of the skyline too, with a romantic near-distance crowding of skyline titans.

admittedly I've only ever done ESB and the original WTC with my parents when I was a tiny little kid, and looking forward to taking some young family members to the 1000-foot-funhouse experience of 1 Vandy, but 30 Rock has that perfect mix!

[ArchGuy1]

Back in the early 1930's, there were public observation decks on the top floors of the Bank of Manhattan Building at 40 Wall Street, Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower in Brooklyn, Irving Trust Building at One Wall Street, and City Bank Farmers Trust Building at 20 Exchange Place, all of which were the headquarters of banks and security was a concern even back then. This in addition to buildings that were not owned by banks like the Chrysler Building, Woolworth Building, Empire State Building, RCA Building, and the City Ssrvices Building. Makes me wish 270 Park Avenue had a public observation deck included in it's construction due to it's immense size and height.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Great pics.

Yeah, I've been to One Vanderbilt and Edge in recent months, and both were packed. Midtown could probably accommodate another half-dozen observatories in the coming years.

Originally Posted by dropdeaded209

those all look jam-packed!

real money-making machines and you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck even without the added gimmicks on the new east and west side observatories.

30 Rock has got to be the best IMHO thanks to the combination of location--smack dab in the middle Midtown but with plenty of breathing room--and the sensation of being up on the true ROOF of the building, with nothing but sky above you.

at 850', it's snuggly nestled in the upper third of of the skyline too, with a romantic near-distance crowding of skyline titans.

admittedly I've only ever done ESB and the original WTC with my parents when I was a tiny little kid, and looking forward to taking some young family members to the 1000-foot-funhouse experience of 1 Vandy, but 30 Rock has that perfect mix!

In the age of instagram, twitter, and cell phone cameras, everyone is a photographer, and everyone wants that perfect shot and selfie. People are always looking for the next thing. I try to rotate my visits to the decks, but Midtown is where most of the new action has been, so I sadly haven’t been to the WTC deck in a few years. But for basic view of skyscrapers, Top of the Rock is the best I think because of its central location. You’re looking out and up at supertall skyscrapers in every direction, and its only getting better.

Originally Posted by ArchGuy1

Back in the early 1930's, there were public observation decks on the top floors of the Bank of Manhattan Building at 40 Wall Street, Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower in Brooklyn, Irving Trust Building at One Wall Street, and City Bank Farmers Trust Building at 20 Exchange Place, all of which were the headquarters of banks and security was a concern even back then. This in addition to buildings that were not owned by banks like the Chrysler Building, Woolworth Building, Empire State Building, RCA Building, and the City Ssrvices Building. Makes me wish 270 Park Avenue had a public observation deck included in it's construction due to it's immense size and height.

Yeah, those classic decks were special, especially because it was at a time when the world wasnt covered in so many tall buildings.

[ArchGuy1]

Originally Posted by NYguy

In the age of instagram, twitter, and cell phone cameras, everyone is a photographer, and everyone wants that perfect shot and selfie. People are always looking for the next thing. I try to rotate my visits to the decks, but Midtown is where most of the new action has been, so I sadly haven’t been to the WTC deck in a few years. But for basic view of skyscrapers, Top of the Rock is the best I think because of its central location. You’re looking out and up at supertall skyscrapers in every direction, and its only getting better.




Yeah, those classic decks were special, especially because it was at a time when the world wasnt covered in so many tall buildings.

An early plan called for a public observation deck at the top of Central Park Tower, but the plans were scrapped in favor of more condominium space. Such a deck would not have been that difficult as there are quite a few skyscrapers that are purely residential otherwise above the ground floor with public observation decks on their top floors. Examples of such buildings include the Sapphire Tower in Istanbul, Turkey, the Eureka Tower in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and the Q1 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Additionally, the John Hancock Center in Chicago has a public observation deck despite being a mixed use office and residential skyscraper and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, The Shard in London, and the Lotte World Tower in Seoul all have public observation decks on top despite being mixed use office, hotel, and residential skyscrapers. Finally, the Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City and King Power Mahanakhon in Bangkok have public observation decks despite being mixed use residential and hotel skyscrapers. Therefore, this was a wasted opportunity to include a public observation deck at the top of the Central Park Tower and it would have become one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_Tower https://web.archive.org/web/20191020...-revenues.html

[NYguy]

https://nypost.com/2023/01/06/highes...-hudson-yards/

Highest ice skating rink in NYC to open in Hudson Yards this month


By Hannah Frishberg
January 6, 2023

For a limited time, New Yorkers can soon glide above it all.

The loftiest winter blading spot in town is slated to open more than 1,100 feet above ground this coming week.

It will all be happening over at Manhattan’s Hudson Yards development, where — yes — the highest skating rink in New York City will allow patrons to drift over a 1,024-square-foot rink from Jan. 10 to March 14.

Instead of ice, however, visitors will be skating on “glice” — a synthetic material that’s said to feel just like the real thing. The “zero-energy ecological and synthetic ice rink” Sky Skate venue will be located in the indoor section of the Edge observation deck, which extends just under 80 feet out from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. The observation deck is the highest in the Western Hemisphere — and is perhaps best known for its glass floor portion, which looks down to the city streets far below.

Tickets — which include admission to Edge and skate rentals — grant rink access for 30-minute intervals between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week and can be purchased online. Prices start at $48 per adult and go up to $73 for a premium admission pass, which includes a glass of champagne and a personalized photo book — and $88 for an express admission allowing guests priority elevator access and the ability to visit at any time on the day of their choosing. Slightly discounted tickets are available for seniors and children over 5; children 5 and under are free.

After their time slot, guests are invited to enjoy the views from Edge’s outdoor viewing area, which has views extending to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, the Atlantic Ocean and everything in between. Those who do not get vertigo from the experience may consider also buying tickets to the building’s City Climb offering, in which patrons pay to scale the outside of the building.

https://nypost.com/wp-content/upload...y=25&strip=all



https://nypost.com/wp-content/upload...y=25&strip=all

[ArchGuy1]

Originally Posted by NYguy

In the age of instagram, twitter, and cell phone cameras, everyone is a photographer, and everyone wants that perfect shot and selfie. People are always looking for the next thing. I try to rotate my visits to the decks, but Midtown is where most of the new action has been, so I sadly haven’t been to the WTC deck in a few years. But for basic view of skyscrapers, Top of the Rock is the best I think because of its central location. You’re looking out and up at supertall skyscrapers in every direction, and its only getting better.




Yeah, those classic decks were special, especially because it was at a time when the world wasnt covered in so many tall buildings.

I certainly wish that the Woolworth Building observation deck was reopened to the public as part of the conversion of the upper floors to condos. It would have made the Woolworth Building observation deck a popular tourist attraction in the age of Instagram and smartphones. At least the former observation deck at 70 Pine Street has been turned into a restaurant that is open to the public as part of it's conversion to a residential building. On top of this, I certainly wish the Brooklyn Tower at 9 DeKalb Avenue had a public observation deck at the top, considering that the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower had a public observation deck when it opened in 1929.

[Crawford]

The former Woolworth observation deck is now someone's residence, I believe. They converted the upper half of the tower to residences, and the observation deck was incorporated into a multilevel penthouse apartment.

[ArchGuy1]

Originally Posted by Crawford

The former Woolworth observation deck is now someone's residence, I believe. They converted the upper half of the tower to residences, and the observation deck was incorporated into a multilevel penthouse apartment.

The John Hancock Center in Chicago is a mixed use building with apartments on the upper floors and offices on the lower floors. Nonetheless, that building has an observation deck and restaurant open to the public on the topmost habitable floors. Certainly wish that the Woolworth Building was reopened to the public rather than have it turned into a penthouse apartment. That way, the Woolworth Building could have been offices on the lower floor, apartments and condos on the upper floors, and the topmost floors a public observation deck.

[NYguy]

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...&adppopup=true

[NYguy]

https://twitter.com/atozwithzachary/...042245/photo/1

[ArchGuy1]

Originally Posted by NYguy

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...&adppopup=true

Shows you why there are already 5 observation decks on top of skyscrapers in Manhattan with additional decks planned at 740 8th Avenue, the Chrysler Building, Affirmation Tower, and Tower Fifth.

[NYguy]

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...?adppopup=true

[NYguy]

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...?adppopup=true





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