There are so many empty skyscrapers in Midtown. This conversation has been edited and condensed. “It was built specifically to inspire.” (OK, but it does make for some pretty cool photos).Īhead of the opening, The New York Times spoke with Kenzo Digital about his newest project.
“It isn’t just an Instagram background or a spectacle,” he said. The native New Yorker wanted to trigger a deep, emotional connection to the city, he said. It was created by Kenzo Digital, 42, a digital artist known for his collaborations with Beyoncé. Inside, there is an immersive experience called Air, with mirrors, lights and views of the city hundreds of feet below. From floors 91 through 93, viewers can take in the Art Deco details of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, and if they peer north on a clear day, can catch a glimpse of Bear Mountain, in the Hudson Highlands. This week, One Vanderbilt, a new construction at the corner of 42nd Street, will open its observation deck, SUMMIT.
Office buildings have lost their buzz, which has affected local restaurants and other businesses.īut Midtown’s spiky skyline remains, and is even expanding. For much of the pandemic, Midtown Manhattan has struggled.
