NYC’s “Vessel” Reopens with Enhanced Suicide Prevention Measures, Including Safety Nets
### The Vessel Reopens: A Controversial Balance Between Tourism and Suicide Prevention
Manhattan’s “Vessel,” the towering, honeycomb-shaped structure in Hudson Yards, has reopened to the public after three years of closure following several tragic suicides. The 150-foot reflective building, designed by Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio at a cost of $260 million, has long been a prominent tourist attraction as well as a contentious site since its debut due to safety concerns and accessibility issues.
While celebrated by many for its architectural beauty and panoramic views of New York City, the Vessel’s troubling record of impulsive suicides has invoked calls for the structure’s permanent closure. The deaths of four individuals between 2020 and 2021 led to an extensive reevaluation of how attractions designed for public engagement should address mental health risks. The question looms: Can iconic urban landmarks be modified to prevent harm without losing their appeal?
### Tragedy at The Vessel: A Series of Suicides
The Vessel’s history is marred by a string of suicides that began within its first year of opening. The first death in early 2020 prompted the Manhattan Community Board 4 to draft an urgent plea for improved safety measures. By January 2021, after three more individuals had taken their lives by jumping from the upper floors, the pressure mounted for developers, Related Companies, and Hudson Yards to implement more effective suicide prevention measures.
Calls for the structure’s permanent closure grew louder after the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy in July 2021, despite some initial attempts at curbing further incidents, such as imposing a restriction that prevented visitors from exploring the Vessel alone. However, these measures did not suffice, and the Vessel closed indefinitely that same year.
### Reopening with Safety Modifications
In April 2024, Hudson Yards announced the Vessel’s reopening alongside new changes aimed at addressing the suicides. The most significant security enhancement is the installation of “floor-to-ceiling” mesh caging that now covers the exposed sections of the structure, providing a physical barrier to those on the upper levels. This mesh, designed to be soft to the touch, still allows unobstructed views of New York City while preventing dangerous jumps.
Security protocols have also been stepped up. Visitors undergo bag checks ensuring no sharp objects could damage the mesh, and other precautionary procedures are in place, though notably, no security guards are posted on the higher levels of the structure.
Despite the new measures, reactions to the Vessel’s reopening remain mixed. While some visitors, like Sammy from the Bronx, consider the reopening a triumph and a return to normalcy, others are more critical, questioning whether the current modifications genuinely address the underlying issues of public safety, particularly mental health risks.
### Mixed Receptions and Persistent Concerns
For many, the Vessel has always been an architectural marvel. Its distinctive honeycomb shape and interconnected staircases have drawn thousands of tourists since its 2016 debut. Visitors like Sammy find that “holding back this beauty from everyone else is a little unfortunate.” Cynthia, another local resident, praised the safety enhancements, expressing satisfaction with changes that allow the site to stay open.
However, not everyone shares this optimism. Critics, including mental health advocates and community leaders, are skeptical about whether the mesh netting and bag checks adequately safeguard vulnerable individuals. Writer Charley Burlock, who has written extensively on the Vessel’s safety issues, noted that suicide barriers are often effective not only because they physically prevent attempts but also because they communicate that someone cares about the life of the person who might be at risk. Burlock further argued that despite the mesh, the reopening of the Vessel still sends an apathetic message to those struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Brooklyn-based architect and community representatives have echoed similar concerns, advocating that preventive measures should have been taken long before the tragedies occurred. Additionally, several advocates continue to argue for the permanent closure of the structure to protect visitors who may view the Vessel as a trigger.
### A Precarious Structure in a Contentious Development
The Vessel’s suicide incidents are not isolated cases but part of a broader discussion about how urban attractions can often become arenas for grave mental health crises. This conversation has escalated over the years, particularly in iconic settings such as the Golden Gate Bridge. Just like how the Golden Gate now features netting as a deterrent for jumpers, the Vessel has installed similar safety barriers, perhaps signaling a growing recognition of the need for architectural interventions in high-risk locations.
But the Vessel debate also ties into a larger contextual problem concerning Hudson Yards itself. As the most expensive private real estate development in U.S. history, with a $25 billion price tag, Hudson Yards represents a broader critique of excessive wealth and gentrification. From its inception, many critics labeled the Vessel as a “vanity project,” terming it gaudy and out of touch with the needs of the general public. Developer Related Companies