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The biggest real estate development in American history is getting a $150 million M.C. Escher-like stairwell

The biggest real estate development in American history is getting a $150 million M.C. Escher-like stairwell

Vessel is in the outdoor public space of Hudson Yards, which is still under construction. Here's what the NYC neighborhood looked like in October 2017.

The biggest real estate development in American history is getting a $150 million M.C. Escher-like stairwell

The 600-ton structure features 154 flights of stairs and 80 landings, which connect to form a lattice of walkways. Thomas Heatherwick, founder of London's Heatherwick Studio, designed it.

The 600-ton structure features 154 flights of stairs and 80 landings, which connect to form a lattice of walkways. Thomas Heatherwick, founder of London

Visitors will be able to climb 2,500 steps, totaling a mile of pathway above the plazas and gardens below.

Visitors will be able to climb 2,500 steps, totaling a mile of pathway above the plazas and gardens below.

Only physically impaired visitors will be able to use Vessel's glass elevator to reach the top.

Construction workers attached Vessel's last piece on Wednesday morning. The sculpture widens from 50 feet across at its base to 150 feet at its top.

Construction workers attached Vessel

Construction began in April 2017. The 103 pieces arrived by ship from Monfalcone, Italy, where they were made in a factory.

Since a few of the surrounding buildings are still under construction, Vessel will not open to the public until early 2019.

Since a few of the surrounding buildings are still under construction, Vessel will not open to the public until early 2019.

The site's 5-acre plaza will feature more than 28,000 species of trees and plants, a 200-footlong fountain, walking paths, benches, and open squares with tables.

The site

"In a city full of eye-catching structures, our first thought was that it shouldn’t just be something to look at. Instead we wanted to make something that everybody could use, touch, relate to," Heatherwick wrote in a statement.

"In a city full of eye-catching structures, our first thought was that it shouldn’t just be something to look at. Instead we wanted to make something that everybody could use, touch, relate to," Heatherwick wrote in a statement.

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