8 interesting facts about Edge NYC that you may not know

Given that the observation deck is located on the 100th floor of the building, you could be forgiven to think that it would take a while to reach the top. However, to your (and our) surprise, it takes under a minute - 52 seconds to be precise, to reach the observation deck atop the skyscraper. It is an unbelievable statistic that proves the engineering might of the building’s architects and designers.

Although the Edge opened in March 2020 with the aim of making an immediate impact on NYC, the pandemic disrupted its plans. It was then closed for a few months until its re-opening in September 2020. The ride since then has been smooth, with the deck’s multiple, built-in thrill elements like the large glass floor and nine-foot glass walls attracting visitors daily.

Part of what makes the Edge special is that it feels like you’re floating in the air. The observation deck protrudes 80 feet out from Hudson Yards. The glass floor beneath the 7500 square feet platform imparts a surreal feeling, although some may find it daunting as you can see the street below clear as daylight. Brace the height as the views from the top are unbelievable.

The horizon is the limit at the Edge. From South and East Manhattan to New Jersey and beyond, you’ll see the best of all areas in New York City. The triangular observation deck, the highest in the Western Hemisphere, offers unparalleled, magical, and 360-degree views you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Thanks to the angled design of the glass panels, you can lean ever so slightly and take Instagram-worthy pictures of the New York City skyline.

The outdoor staircase bordering the Edge takes you over the glass panels to the top of the building. A vantage point like few others, you’ll see NYC at its unfiltered best; from Central Park to the bustling squares of Manhattan, nothing will be out of reach for you. However, the platform’s top may be inaccessible to individuals in a wheelchair since the only way up is by the staircase.

The highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, the Edge was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) to lock onto the east and south sides of the skyscraper. Fifteen sections are bolted together to form the glass platform and the angular base, with the structure weighing a combined 765,000 pounds (346,998 kilograms). The glass panels in the platform were manufactured in Germany, finished in Italy, and installed in the heart of the United States (US).