Top of the Rock Observation Deck, New York

The observation deck at Rockefeller Center first opened to the public in 1933. Nearly a century later, this landmark has been renovated by Tishman Speyer and transformed into one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York City.

Nestled at the top of Rockefeller Center, the Top of the Rock Observation Deck consists of three levels of indoor and outdoor observation areas, providing unobstructed views of the city skyline. The building’s newest attraction, Skylift, offers a thrilling 360-degree experience by lifting visitors three stories above the 70th-floor observation deck on a revolving, open-air glass platform, for views of New York City, Central Park, and beyond.

Other attractions include The Beam, where visitors can relive the spirit of ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’; the immersive Top of the Rock Mezzanine Theater, which brings the landmark’s history and vision to life; and the Weather Room, offering locally sourced fares with views of the city skyline.

Linesight is providing Cost Management Services to Tishman Speyer for this significant redevelopment project.

Value add

• The building houses many high-profile tenants, including a recording studio, necessitating additional considerations around noise management and construction-permitted hours. Linesight managed the budget, which allocated resources for contractors to perform much of the work outside of operational hours to ensure minimal disruption for tenants and patrons.
• With Rockefeller Center being a Historical Landmark, much of this renovation project relied on acquiring landmark approvals from city officials. Linesight worked closely with the team to ensure that costs associated with gaining these approvals were accounted for in the budget.
• Due to the nature and complexity of working in a live environment, effective risk management was paramount to delivering a successful project. Linesight managed the change order process and procurement of all the contractor packages and consultant appointments.
• Building and installing these new steel-heavy attractions required bespoke engineering and intensive logistical coordination. Linesight and the project team expertly coordinated the transportation of steel parts up 67 floors through a fully operational midtown building.