Thinc Design reveal new observatory for the Empire State Building
by Andy Knaggs | 23 Sep 2019
– Tom Hennes
The observation deck on the top floor of the Empire State Building has reopened this week after the third of a US$165m (€148, £128) four-phase redevelopment of the experience at the iconic New York City landmark.
The observatory redevelopment was carried out by design consultants Beneville Studios, project managers JLL, elevator company Otis, contractors Skanska and Thinc Design, who designed the wider observatory experience exhibition. Squint/Opera were responsible for the attraction's digital media elements.
Tom Hennes, principal at Thinc Design, was handed the task of modernising the building's visitor experience exhibits.
"From start to finish, we made the whole thing experiential", said Hennes. "The aim was to create memorable moments that visitors could hang onto, really treasure and really associate with the Empire State Building. It clearly had to involve its construction and its place in popular culture, but we wanted to look at life inside as well."
The first-phase relocation of the visitor entrance was completed in August 2018. The second-phase addition of a second floor element of the observatory experience opened at in July 2018. The final phase will involve the addition of another observation deck on the 80th floor.
The renovation has seen the space on the 102nd floor enclosed with 24 floor-to-ceiling windows each 8ft (2.4m)-tall. The climate-controlled, all-weather space provides views across New York from 1,250ft (381m).
Visitors to the attraction now access it via a glass elevator from 86th floor. The journey up the final 16 stories in a newly-renovated glass shaft provides a look at the inside of the tower's mast and its lights.
Empire State Building Tom Hennes Thinc Design New York
King Kong is very much a part of Empire State Building history, and now its visitor experience too courtesy of a Squint/Opera installation
Images of the iconic Manhattan landmark in popular culture dominate one gallery
The observation deck has 24 floor-to-ceiling windows each 8ft (2.4m)-tall
It provides views across New York from 1,250ft (381m) up
The deck is accessible via lift
The development of the 102nd floor deck was the third of a US$165m (€148, £128) four-phase project
Obstructions and obstacles have been removed to provide better visibility
Visitors to the attraction now access it via a glass elevator the 86th floor observatory
07 Sep 2018
Empire State Building modernisation continues with redeveloped entrance
03 Oct 2014
9/11 Memorial Museum welcomes its millionth visitor
20 Jul 2011
New attraction for Empire State Building
FEATURE: People profile – Tom Hennes
FEATURE: Feature – A Living Museum
FEATURE: Museum – A museum for everyone
The observation deck on the top floor of the Empire State Building has reopened this week after the third of a US$165m (€148, £128) four-phase redevelopment of the experience at the iconic New York City landmark. The observatory redevelopment was carried out by design consultants Beneville Studios, project managers JLL, elevator company Otis, contractors Skanska and Thinc Design, who designed the wider observatory experience exhibition. Squint/Opera were responsible for the
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