The Ascent Has Begun

There aren’t many titles that One Vanderbilt (ELEVATOR WORLD, August 2019) doesn’t have. At a height of 1,401 ft, it is the fourth tallest tower in New York, the fifth tallest in North America and the U.S. and 27th tallest in the world. Now, its elevator system Ascent has a title as well: the winner of the 2022 Elevators, New Construction Project of the Year.

Installed by Liberty Elevator and located externally as part of the SUMMIT observation deck (EW, July 2021) that opened on October 21, the Ascent elevators provide a new perspective of the NYC skyline through their glass walls and floor. The rack and pinion elevators afford passengers a unique experience as they ride up more than 1,200 ft over the city. According to the SUMMIT One website, “SUMMIT’s Ascent is the highest [public-use] rack-and-pinion elevator system in the world, and at 90 ft² each, the largest glass floor elevators in the world.”

Tickets for the Ascent experience start at US$59 for adults and US$53 for children 6-12, with free admission for children 5 and under. In addition to a ride on the Ascent elevators, these tickets include entry to all four floors of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt; access to Air, the interactive art exhibit; Après, the food and cocktail bar; and Levitation, SUMMIT’s transparent skyboxes. The Ascent elevators are open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with tickets purchased online at summitov.com for certain time slots.