There’s a lot going on at Hudson Yards. It’s a shopping mall, an event venue, a rail yard, an art exhibit, and a skyscraper with an observation deck.
I was there for the skyscraper and observation deck. I figured I’d want to visit one of the city’s observation decks, and this one stuck in my mind ever since Alyssa pointed out that it looks like Avengers Tower from the Marvel movies.
The observation deck is surrounded by thick glass, which was comforting since the wind was crazy. It’s the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere.
Looking north-ish to some even taller buildings. Central Park Tower (also known as Nordstrom Tower) on the left is the tallest primarily residential building in the world. Moving to the right, Steinway Tower is the most slender in the world. Then, in the middle of the photo, 432 Park Avenue is the 3rd-tallest residential building in the world. And finally on the right, One Vanderbilt is the second-tallest building in NYC.
Looking east-ish, there’s the Empire State Building!
And looking south, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in NYC, the United States, and the Western Hemisphere (and the 7th tallest building in the world). You can also see the Hudson River, and if you squint at the middle-right of the photo, the High Line (which sort of ends at Hudson Yards).
Heading back to earth, you exit through the shopping mall, which sends you to “Vessel,” which is closed (perhaps forever) due to too many people jumping from it. You’re permitted to go inside and take photos, but you can’t climb it anymore, and there’s plenty of security managing the crowd.
Inside the mall there’s a wall featuring famous women.
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