Winner 2019

Award for
Structural Artistry (non building structure)

Project Description

This interactive sculpture creates a new innovative centrepiece for the Hudson Yards redevelopment. Designed as a lattice of ramps and landings, forming a rigid, monolithic structure, Vessel is characterised by inner and outer layers of stairs comprising almost 2,500 individual steps.

Judge’s comments

The structural engineering challenges that were met to deliver this piece of urban inhabitable sculpture ranged through analysis, design and construction.

But for each of these, the uniqueness of the structure meant the challenges themselves were also unique.

The structure is the architecture and vice versa and with the form comparable to a massive spring, addressing vibration was more complex than in other structures and was met with impressive engineering analysis and design.

Project overview

Structural Designer

  • AKT II

Client Name

  • Related Companies

Location

  • New York, USA

Architect

  • Heatherwick Studio

Principal Contractor

  • Cimolai

Key Contractors

  • Thornton Tomasetti – Engineer of Record

    Images: © Timothy Schenck