The New York visitor attraction designed by Heatherwick Studios closes again after a teenager killed themself jumping from the 16-story attraction. This is the Vessel’s fourth suicide case in two years since it was completed in 2019.
Last Thursday, a 14-year-old boy jumped from one of the Vessel’s platforms after visiting with his family, urging Stephen Ross to consider closing the attraction for good.
Courtesy of Michael Moran
Heatherwick Studios said: “We’re distraught about the news of last week’s tragedy”. While Stephen Ross, the billionaire chairman of developer Related, who as well runs the Vessel, told the Daily Beast “We thought we did everything that would really prevent this.”
“Working with our partners at Related, the team exhaustively explored physical solutions to increase safety. [These] require further rigorous tests, and we continue to work to identify a solution that is feasible in terms of engineering and installation.” added a spokesperson from Heatherwick Studios.
Courtesy of Michael Moran
Built to be the focal point of the Hudson Yards Development, Heatherwick Studios’ attraction comprises 154 stairs that meet at 80 platforms, giving the form of a honeycomb. It has been witnessing suicide cases before it was officially open—a 19-year-old man jumped off one of its platforms in February 2019. After that, a 21-year-old man and a 24-year old woman killed themselves jumping off the Vessel, causing the attraction to close for four months and to incorporate some safety measures upon reopening.
Courtesy of Michael Moran
These safety measures included implementing a “buddy system” that prevented people from entering the Vessel alone and fixing signs with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number along the walkway and on tickets. Apparently, these measures were not enough to prevent more people from jumping off the attraction.
Lowell Kern, the chairman of the local community board argued that Related had done “everything”. He said: “they could have raised the height of the barriers and that would have prevented this tragedy. For reasons unknown to us they decided not to do that”.
The climbable barriers have been a concern since 2016, yet they have not been changed.
“It’s hard to really fathom how something like that could happen. But you know, I feel terrible for the family,” said Stephen Ross to the Daily Beast.