Accessibility at SUMMIT

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt’s entrance is located on the Basement level (B1) of the One Vanderbilt building and is accessed from the Concourse level of Grand Central Station.

Guests who arrive with tickets that have been pre-purchased online can usually move quickly through this space and to SUMMIT’s stanchioned entrance. Here, our Ambassadors give guests wristbands that are scanned at various touchpoints to collect photos taken throughout SUMMIT.

At the SUMMIT entrance doors, there will be a security dog and handler by the ticket check-point at the entrance. The dog will not interact with or touch guests.

As ticketed guests enter SUMMIT, they join a stanchioned queue for security check at our Evolv machines. For guests looking to purchase tickets, we have kiosks along the walls and a Box Office desk staffed by our Ambassadors. A large screen is located to the left of the desk that displays hours of operation, ticketing information, and weather.

Immediately following ticket purchases, guests move through a touch-free security check via our Evolv machines or security wands. Guests walking through the scanners do not have to take off coats, bags, or jewelry.

If the security scan picks up an object that requires further examination, the system will “beep,” and the guest will be asked to go through an additional security check.

After exiting the security check, guests enter a theater to the left, housed behind a closed door. This dark, convex, curved miniature theater can hold 30 people at a time, and has a bright, 180-degree video screen and corresponding, immersive audio.

The audio contains loud bass. The scenes played on the video screen showcase the SUMMIT experience. The theater’s exit is located to the right. If any guests are concerned about interactions with bright, flickering lights and loud sounds, please inform the Ambassador stationed in front of the theater entrance so you can skip this element of the experience. We also provide ear plugs upon request for this experience.

The Memory Wall is an optional stop to take a group photo to commemorate the visit. If guests choose to take a photo at the Memory Wall, they are lined up at one of three stations.

Ambassadors will take their photo using cameras that are fixed into the ceiling.

Across from the Memory Wall, guests will go through ticket scan turnstiles. These turnstiles are activated through a mobile or physical ticket scan and are wheelchair accessible.

Once guests pass the turnstiles, they are given shoe-covers which are mandatory to wear in all mirrored spaces of the experience. On sunny days, we also offer sunglasses for guests to borrow. Once guests wear shoe-covers, they enter a queue leading them to the 3D face-scan process.

Guests have the option to have their faces scanned, rendered into a cloud-like image that is attached to their wristband, and displayed upon wristband scan in the Air: Unity exhibit on the 92nd floor. Directions for the scan are given on the display screens attached to each of the 10 scanners.

Guests step up to the scanner one by one, and are positioned between the arms of the camera. The lights of the camera are bright and emit a high-pitched sound as they scan each guest’s face. If guests wish to bypass the scan, please let our ambassador know and make a right to enter the tunnel leading up to our elevators.

Entrance to the elevator bank is located in a dark tunnel via a small, dimly lit oval-shaped room with a central column. The walls, ceiling, and column are all covered in mirrors. The mirrors reflect themselves and everyone within the space.

Guests can choose to walk around the central pillar from either side to enter the stanchioned tunnel where two lines form to enter the elevators going up to the observation deck. Please bear in mind that this space includes a pulsating light and sound show.

With ambient wind sounds playing throughout, the tunnel is a dimly lit passageway to line up for the elevators. This hallway resembles a launchpad.

Slow, pulsating lights with corresponding soundscape lead guests down this darkened hallway to the brightly lit elevators.

There are three, bright, fully mirrored elevators that carry guests to the upper floors of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. These elevators include immersive flashing lights and additional whooshing audio.

Please note that this soundscape experience can be turned off by our Ambassadors upon request. Please inform the Ambassadors standing across from the elevators if you wish to avail this option. Some guests may experience the sensation of their ears popping when traveling on the elevators.

The elevator opens into a hallway filled with bright lighting that changes colors throughout the day and serves as a passageway to the upcoming full-mirrored experience. Please note that from this point on, SUMMIT is a one-way experience and once a guest leaves a floor, they are unable to revisit the previous one.

AIR: Transcendence is a large, 2-story room covered with mirrors. The walls, floor, ceiling, and pillars infinitely reflect one another and everyone within the space.

The far walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out onto the city skyline, which is also reflected in the mirrors. A non-reflective privacy path traces the internal wall and can be followed to exit the space for anyone who does not wish to walk upon a mirrored floor. Two, mirrored, cylindrical “portals” are cut into the ceilings on the right and left of the room, allowing guests to look up into the second floor and vice-versa. A full spectrum lightshow runs from sunset to close every day in all mirrored spaces at SUMMIT.

The Reflect space houses guest-artist Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit, entitled “Clouds.” Silver, metallic, reflective pieces resembling “clouds” rest on the floor in two arrangements in the middle of the room.

The clouds are meant to be observed and should not be touched by guests. The room has white walls with floor-to-ceiling windows on external wall and a white bench on the opposite wall for guest seating.

This bright room contains floor-to-ceiling windows, infinity mirrors, an ambient soundscape, and silver mylar balloons that reflect all movement in the space. A current of air runs throughout the room, keeping the floating balloons moving inside the space.

Guests are encouraged to touch the floating balloons and gently push them through the air. However, we request refrain from punching, kicking or engaging with balloons in any disruptive manner. The balloons do make sounds as they bounce off one another and off guests. A clouded mirror privacy path traces the inner wall of the room for guests who do not wish to walk on the mirrored floor. Time limits may be implemented in this space on busy days at management’s discretion.

Guests can access a family bathroom with a child-sized diaper changing table on this floor in addition to separate restrooms for men and women, before they take the escalator to the next floor. The men’s and women’s bathrooms each have multiple stalls.

The bathrooms on this floor are patterned in blue. The men’s bathroom on this floor has a window facing the skyline, whereas the women’s bathroom has no windows.

Aside from the three elevators used to travel between the ground floor and the observation deck floors, a fourth elevator runs between the upper floors (OB1-OB3). This elevator does not include the immersive experience.

Please note that anyone with strollers or wheelchairs should use this elevator to move between the upper floors, and to the 92nd floor when looking to exit.

This space is the second floor of the earlier AIR: Transcendence room. A wraparound mezzanine balcony looks over the first floor, offering guests a different view and perspective.

This balcony has glass walls with a silver-capped edge for guests to look over. Guests can also look down the two mirrored, cylindrical “portals” to the first floor. A non-reflective privacy path is available along the inner wall of the room for guests who do not wish to walk on the mirrored floor.

This space has white walls, a long white bench, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city skyline. Two of these windows include all-glass step-out ledges. Guests stepping out on these glass-floored ledges can look 1,070 feet below to Madison Avenue.

Guests may also request a photo of themselves standing on the glass ledges which are taken from cameras that are fixed into the ceiling. Time limits may be implemented in this space on busy days at management’s discretion.

This is another fully-mirrored room with floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall with a bright, floor-to-ceiling LED screen on the opposite wall. The screen displays a moving cloudscape, and guests are not permitted to touch this screen.

Guests who opted into the 3D face scan on the ground floor will see renderings of their faces represented in the clouds on the screen. There is a lot of visual movement in this space, as the skyline, LED screenscape, and guests are all reflected in the mirrors of this room. This space can trigger vertigo for some guests and may be bypassed by continuing through the outer hallway.

To reach the next floor, guests may take the escalator or service elevator. Across from the escalator, guests can also access separate bathrooms for men and women, where there are multiple stalls as well as a child-sized diaper changing station.

The bathrooms on this floor are patterned in dark blue and have windows facing the skyline.

Food and drinks may be purchased at Après by queuing up for service. Several small tables with chairs are arranged beside the cafe for guests to eat, drink, and rest.

There is also a large, smooth, wooden bench that can seat multiple guests. A water-vapor fireplace is nestled in the corner. The lounge has several floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook an outdoor terrace.

The outdoor terrace features multiple planters filled with seasonal alpine flowers and plants. Glass walls allow guests unobstructed views of the city skyline.

There are a few benches where guests can rest, as well as high-top tables. Food and beverage can be purchased from several food carts and an outdoor bar during the warmer seasons. One revolving door and one automatic door are located on either side of the terrace, with the one in Après café allowing entrance to and the other exit from the Terrace. Check-in desk for the add-on Ascent experience is located by the Terrace exit door.

Ascent is an optional, add-on experience. Guests can take this exterior glass elevator up the side of the One Vanderbilt building an additional 120 feet for a breathtaking view of New York City.

Guests can purchase tickets for Ascent at the Welcome Center or at a ticket kiosk located in a hallway next to the exit from the outdoor terrace. Virtual queueing is used during peak times; after signing up onsite, guests receive a text or email notification when it is their turn to ride Ascent.

Housed just beyond the terrace exit is a 3D photo-capture opportunity where cameras take a full body scan of participants and superimpose their portraits onto an image of the AIR: Transcendence space. As the photos are taken, the cameras light up and can emit a high-pitched sound as the photo are taken.

This is an optional, add-on experience.

Several shelves line the OB3 floor hallways, full of merchandise to commemorate guests’ SUMMIT experience. Guests may select items and go to the single register located in the middle of the boutique to make their purchase.

There is also an additional shopping experience on the ground floor that guests will walk through as they exit SUMMIT.

Guests may also access the bathroom on this floor. The bathrooms have multiple stalls, as well as child-sized diaper changing stations.

The bathrooms on this floor are patterned in orange and contain windows facing the skyline.

Several touchscreen kiosks stand parallel to the exit escalator. Guests may scan their photo wristband to select and purchase any photos taken of them throughout their experience.

To descend to the exit elevator of SUMMIT, guests take the escalator down to OB2 and then take the AIR: Rise elevators back down to the first floor of SUMMIT. Like the earlier elevator experience, this elevator is mirrored, and lights and sound accompany the experience unless guests ask that they be turned off.

This hallway serves as a space for guests to line up (starting on the left side of the corridor, next to the farther elevator) to take the final exit elevator.

The exit is located in this publicly-accessible gift shop. This boutique is square-shaped; there are no windows in this well-lit room.

Guests may make any final purchases here before concluding their experience and exiting into Grand Central Station.

Floor Overview

UNEXPECTED SENSORY ELEMENTS

More Intense Sensory Routes

Less Intense Sensory Route

Crowding

b1-vision

Sound

Touch

Smells

Floor Overview

Smells

Vision

UNEXPECTED SENSORY ELEMENTS

More Intense Sensory Routes

Less Intense Sensory Route

Crowding

Sound

Touch

Floor Overview

Smells

Sound

Unexpected Sensory Elements

More Intense Sensory Route

Less Intense Sensory Route

Crowding

Vision

Touch

Floor Overview

Touch

Vision

Unexpected Sensory Elements

More Intense Sensory Route

Less Intense Sensory Routes

Crowding

Sound

Smells

Three possible ways to experience Reflect

Three possible ways to experience Affinity

Three possible ways to experience SUMMIT - Après