Pilkington UK has supplied high-performance glazing for Skylift, a new revolving observation platform installed at the top of New York’s Rockefeller Center.
Installed three storeys above the iconic Top of the Rock observation deck, Skylift effectively crowns the 70-storey landmark with a revolving glass platform offering uninterrupted 360-degree views of Manhattan from 850 feet above ground.
Pilkington Optiwhite was specified for its clarity, quality, and processability. Huddersfield fabricator, Specialist Glass Products, worked with interlayer specialist, Kuraray, to create the glass panelling needed to construct the observation deck. They produced the curved, low-iron glass panels needed to deliver the unique shape of the observation deck.
Each panel was also toughened and laminated with Kuraray’s SentryGlas ionoplast interlayer for added strength. This interlayer was initially developed for hurricane glazing in the US making it ideal to strengthen the glass panels for the harsh weather conditions at the very top of the Rockefeller Center.
Adrian Parker, regional sales manager at Pilkington UK, said:
“The Rockefeller Center is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, and at the top of it now sits glass produced by a trans-Pennine team – manufactured in St Helens and processed in Huddersfield.
“Creating a viewing platform like this requires balancing visibility with structural integrity to offer an unrivalled view of New York while ensuring it remains safe for the public to use. Working with Specialist Glass Products and Kuraray has allowed us to provide a product that will achieve this and bring a new panoramic experience to the city’s skyline.”
Andrew Taylor, director of Specialist Glass Products, said:
“Delivering the curved, low-iron glass panels for a structure at this height required absolute precision at every stage of the fabrication process.
“The combination of Pilkington Optiwhite and Kuraray’s SentryGlas interlayer allowed us to achieve both the clarity the design demanded, and the structural performance required for an exposed rooftop installation in New York.
“It’s a fantastic example of UK manufacturing expertise contributing to one of the world’s most recognisable buildings.”
Allan Gibson, global product manager for Kuraray, added:
“Recent advancements in interlayer technology open up exciting new possibilities when it comes to using glass in architecture, and our work with Pilkington UK on the Rockefeller Center is a clear example of this.
“A glass structure sitting at the top of New York’s skyline will have to endure some harsh weather conditions throughout the year, but together we’ve been able to provide a product that means this won’t be an issue for the Skylift platform or those who get to enjoy this exciting experience.”
Glass from Pilkington UK has been used to create some of the world’s most exciting landmarks, from the Empire State Building in New York, Pyramide du Louvre in Paris, to the UK’s tallest building The Shard, London.
