Observatory With Glass Elevator to Debut in Manhattan

Summit One Vanderbilt, an observatory in the crown of the new 1,401-ft-tall One Vanderbilt office supertall in Midtown Manhattan, is set to open on October 21, developer SL Green announced on May 11. Described as a multisensory, immersive experience, the attraction includes an all-glass elevator system called Ascent that travels up the outside of the building and provides “breathtaking” views of NYC from 1,210 ft up. Robert Schiffer, managing director at SL Green, told ELEVATOR WORLD that Cimolai Technology SpA of Italy manufactured the lift’s rack-and-pinion system and drive, and Wittur designed its cabs. In addition to the glass elevator, Summit One Vanderbilt will boast Levitation — transparent glass sky boxes jutting out over the city, suspending guests 1,063 ft above Madison Avenue, as well as an outdoor bar, seating areas and the “highest urban outdoor alpine meadow in the world.” A “category-breaking” art installation by Kenzo Digital is set to debut this summer. Snøhetta designed the interior of Summit One Vanderbilt’s 65,000-ft², four-level entertainment space. As recreation and tourism rebound in the city, SL Green said it invested heavily in both sustainability and public safety. Summit One Vanderbilt has been outfitted with UV-C light sanitation and MERV-16 air filtration, as well as high-efficiency particulate-absorbing filters.