Hudson Yards: A guide to the megaproject’s biggest buildings

In the nearly 15 years since the 2005 rezoning that created the Hudson Yards Special District, the area within its borders has become a neighborhood transformed.

Though many developments have capitalized on the rebranding of the neighborhood, the megaproject known as Hudson Yards officially sits atop the rail yards roughly bounded by 10th and 11th avenues, and 30th and 34th streets. This particular parcel, developed by Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group, still has a long way to go before it’s complete—construction on the West Side rail yards has yet to even commence—the ambitious, multi-billion dollar project has made plenty of progress.

The first section, over the eastern rail yards, is now home to supertall office towers, high-priced apartments, and a bevy of publicly accessible confections—a luxury mall, fancy restaurants, etc.—that have transformed the west side of Manhattan, for better or worse.

Nearly one year ago, much of this came into view for the first time: The shops, restaurants, park, and Thomas Heatherwick-designed “public landmark” have all welcomed visitors, and breathe new life into a previously barren part of Manhattan. With that in mind, here’s a guide to the major developments within the megaproject.

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One Hudson Yards

One Hudson Yards was once the name Related set aside for the office building now known as 55 Hudson Yards. Now, the address refers to a 33-story rental building on 30th Street between 10th and 11th avenues. It was designed by architect Davis Brody Bond, with interiors by Andre Kikoski Architect; Ismael Leyva Architects is noted as the executive architect.

There are 178 apartments, ranging from one-bedrooms to a four-bedroom penthouse, and true to the uberluxury rep Hudson Yards is trying to cultivate, they’re pricey—studios start at $5,095/month. Apartments come with 10-foot ceilings and Manhattan views; amenities include an 82-foot pool, a gym, a basketball court, and a bowling alley. Leasing on the apartments launched in 2017 and the building began welcoming tenants in 2018.

Status: Opened in 2017.

10 Hudson Yards

This Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed skyscraper was the first building to open within Hudson Yards after construction began in 2012. It quickly topped out at 52 stories in 2015, and opened the following year. Since then, it has become home to tenants like Coach, L’Oreal USA, software company SAP, and social media agency VaynerMedia.

As part of the larger opening of Hudson Yards earlier this year, chef Jose Andres opened a 35,000-square-foot food hall, called Mercado Little Spain, at 10 Hudson Yards right below the High Line. It’s also home to a Sweetgreen, and connects to the larger Shops & Restaurants.

Status: Opened in 2016.

15 Hudson Yards

This tower is a collaboration between Diller Scofidio + Renfro as the lead architect, and Rockwell Group as the lead interior architect (Ismael Leyva Architects is noted as the executive architect). The 917-foot-tall building launched sales back in 2016, and welcomed its first residents as the megaproject’s public elements opened this spring.

It’s home to 285 condos (more than half of which have already sold), and the developers didn’t hold back when it came to the luxe amenities; those include a 75-foot swimming pool, screening room, a 3,500-square-foot fitness center, a rooftop lounge and a private co-working space dubbed the Atelier.

It will also be home to 100 affordable apartments; the lottery for those launched in October 2018.

Status: Opened in 2019.

30 Hudson Yards

Also designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, 30 Hudson Yards officially reached its full 1,296-foot height in 2018 and opened in the spring of 2019. The supertall office tower has now welcomed its tenants, including companies like HBO, Time Warner, CNN, and HY developers Related and Oxford Properties Group.

This is the tallest of the megaproject’s skyscrapers, and will be home to a sky-high, open-air observation deck. Construction on that attraction, which will be suspended more than 1,000 feet in the air, began in the spring of 2018; as of March 11, 2020, it’s open for visitors.

Status: Building opened in 2019, observation deck in 2020.

35 Hudson Yards

This mixed-use tower—which is a supertall, clocking in at just over 1,000 feet tall—was designed by Skidmore, Owings + Merrill’s David Childs, and is home to Equinox’s first concept hotel. Its 143 apartments hit the market on March 15, and they’re not cheap: Condos start at $5 million for a two-bedroom, with an average price of $11 million.

Amenities include a screening room, a “comprehensive fitness experience” from Equinox and SoulCycle, a kid’s playroom, and a “director of residences” who can do everything from coordinate laundry service to book a car if you need one.

Status: Opened in 2019.

50 Hudson Yards

In early 2016, a McDonald’s on the corner of 34th Street and Tenth Avenue was demolished to make way for 50 Hudson Yards, which will stand 58 stories, making it the second tallest tower at Hudson Yards. It’s the work of British starchitect Norman Foster, and it’ll house offices and retail. One notable difference from the development’s other buildings: This one still has a few more years to go before it’s complete—it’s scheduled to open in 2022. Facebook recently signed on as a major tenant, taking 1.2 million square feet in the building (of a total 1.5 million square feet across three of the megaproject’s buildings).

Status: Under construction, opening in 2022.

55 Hudson Yards

The architects at Kohn Pedersen Fox created this glassy 780-foot office tower. A few law firms, including Cooley LLP, Milbank, and Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP have all signed on as tenants, along with several healthcare and private equity firms.

Status: Opened in 2019.

Vessel

Related tapped British designer Thomas Heatherwick to a new “public landmark” that sits at the center of the development’s five-acre public park.

Its beehive-esque design was unveiled in late 2016, construction on the project broke ground in April 2017, and it topped out eight months later. It officially opened in March 2019 to mixed reviews.

“In my mind, the ability to comfortably linger is the hallmark of a great public place,” Curbed contributor Karrie Jacobs said in a review. “But Vessel offers no benches or ledges, and I would no more sit on these stairways than I’d sit on the steps at a subway station.”

According to Heatherwick, the sculpture intends to “lift people up to be more visible and enjoy new views and perspectives of each other,” which explains the 154 interconnecting flights of stairs with 2,500 steps and 80 landings. Curious climbers can now sign up for a reservation to take in the whole thing, which rises 150 feet above the ground.

Status: Opened in 2019.

The Shops and Restaurants

A seven-story retail building, simply known as the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, is home to restaurants helmed by several celebrity chefs including Thomas Keller, David Chang, and José Andrés. There are also fast-casual spots like Shake Shack and Fuku.

The shopping center is decidedly upscale, with tenants like Neiman Marcus, Coach, and Stuart Weitzman. All told, there are 100 stores, which open on weekdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Millions of visitors have flocked to the mall since its opening, according to the developers.

It is also home to an interactive exhibit designed by Snarkitecture, one of the many pieces of Instagram-bait within the megaproject. The building was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox with interiors by Elkus Manfredi Architects.

Status: Opened in 2019.

The Shed

Hudson Yards’s 200,000-square-foot cultural center, exhibition space, and performing arts venue rose at the base of 15 Hudson Yards. The Shed, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with the Rockwell Group, features six levels that can house 1,250 seated people or 2,700 standing in its hall.

It debuted in April with several notable commissions, including Soundtrack of America, “a concert series celebrating the unrivaled impact of African American music on contemporary culture,” and new work by artist Trisha Donnelly. Björk and Sorry to Bother You director Boots Riley are on the lineup down the road.

Architecturally speaking, the Shed’s most interesting design element is its retractable outer shell, sitting on six huge wheels on the plaza level. It can be deployed within five minutes with a wireless remote to create a light, sound, and temperature-controlled space.

Status: Opened in 2019.

Edge

Say hello to Edge: The sky-high observation deck that will occupy the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards is now open. Construction kicked off last year and it opened to the public on March 11.

The 1,000-foot-high outdoor deck, which will be the highest in the western hemisphere, will feature a large glass floor with views down towards the neighborhood below. Visitors can also lean against the nine-foot glass walls that angle outward from the deck for an extra thrill.

The deck will feature a 10,000-square-foot restaurant and event space helmed by British hospitality group Rhubarb. Needless to say, the views of Manhattan’s skyline and the Hudson River will be unmatched.

Status: Opened in 2020.