NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — There's a new way to take in the view of the city from high above Manhattan.
It's called Edge and at more than 1,100-feet above the street, it's being billed as the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere.
As WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported, there are three things that are striking when you come out on the deck in the Hudson Yards. One: it's very bright. Two: it seems like you're face-to-face with the Empire State Building. Three: you are high.
Edge is unique in the sense that it sits not on top of the building, but juts out from the side.
"The views are straight down to the street. It's a very different feeling being on top of a building and kind of sticking out over the side," said Jason Horkin, executive director of Hudson Yards Experiences.
The 765,000-pound observation deck is comprised of 15 sections, each weighing between 35,000 and 100,000 pounds, all bolted together and anchored to the east and south sides of the building, according to a press release. The 7,500-square-foot outdoor viewing area is surrounded by 79 glass panels that stand 9-feet tall and weigh 1,400 pounds each.
The attraction also features a section of glass flooring that allows you to look straight down to see 1,131 feet down.
"It's one of our unique experiences because it really lets you get a sense of how high you really are," Horkin said.
On a clear day, the views span 80 miles, stretching past Coney Island to the Rockaways and beyond the Verrazano Bridge to Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
It will open to the public on March 11.
Tickets cost $36 to $38 for adults and $31 to $33 for kids. They're on sale now and a discount is available for New York residents.