Summit One Vanderbilt Offers an Immersive Perspective on NYC

Located on 42nd Street and Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, Summit One Vanderbilt is an interactive and unique experience that provides guests with a new and innovative outlook on New York City. Construction of One Vanderbilt began in February 2017 and the building opened in September 2020. Today, One Vanderbilt is the tallest skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan and the fourth tallest in all of NYC. The observation deck and immersive experience, known as Summit, occupy the top three floors of One Vanderbilt. Since its opening in October 2021, this billion dollar project has attracted thousands of visitors, been featured in countless news articles, and received phenomenal reviews. 

Kenzo Digital, an artist famous for his ability to transform physical spaces, designed Air, the journey, concept, and overall experience of Summit. Digital has worked on several well known performances and events, including Beyonce at the Billboards, a performance by Kanye West, and the Kenzo Fashion Show in Paris. His work allows viewers to establish a deep, emotional connection with a physical environment, making the space powerful, inspiring, and transformational. 

When first entering the building from Grand Central, guests are asked to put on shoe covers to protect the glass. Sunglasses are also provided since the sun can be intense when reflected off the mirrors in the exhibit. To begin the experience, guests are led into a dark hallway from which they take an elevator, covered in mirrors and flashing lights, up to Summit. The total experience consists of five spaces: Transcendence, Affinity, Levitation, Ascent, and Après. 

After exiting the elevator, guests enter Transcendence, an imaginative space that takes guests to a whole new environment. It can take a moment for guests to adjust to the brightness of the room, which is covered entirely in mirrors and features floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. Guests have the opportunity to enjoy the expansive views of Bryant Park, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and other Manhattan landmarks. The next room, known as Affinity, is filled with hundreds of free-floating silver and reflective balloons. This is one of the more interactive spaces as guests can engage playfully with their environment.

Levitation, another thrilling aspect of the Summit experience, is a series of sky boxes 1,063 feet above the ground. Visitors have the opportunity to stand inside of these glass boxes and look down through the clear floor at the city streets below. This is an incredible experience that is unlike any other New York City attraction. The next feature of Summit, known as Ascent, is a glass elevator ride located on the exterior of the building. Although this experience costs an additional $20 on top of the basic $39 entry fee for adults, it is worth it. Guests are elevated to the highest point of the Summit, 1,200 feet above 42nd Street, and remain there for a few minutes. At this height, guests can see parts of Brooklyn, New Jersey, and as far downtown as the Freedom Tower. In photos taken at this peak elevation, it’s even possible to spot the Statue of Liberty. 

After returning to Summit’s main levels, guests can step outside onto the outdoor terrace to breathe fresh air and gain even more spectacular views of the city skyline. This lounge area, known as Après, is the final stop in the Summit experience, offering drinks and snacks for guests to enjoy.

Summit can be enjoyed at all times of the day. On a clear morning or afternoon, guests can observe the New York City skyline brightened by the sun and the blue sky. As the sun begins to set, the intense city lights, coming from Times Square, the Empire State Building, and many other skyscrapers, combined with the additional lights within Summit, create a beautiful array of colors. 

In addition to its effort to inspire people and connect them to their environment, Summit strives to give back to New York by investing 1% of all profits in communities, charities, and organizations committed to making a positive impact.