Historically, most of the action at Penn Station has taken place on subterranean levels, but that may soon change. The Brooklyn design and development studio AE Superlab has a bold plan for an imaginative addition to Manhattan’s skyline. Commissioned by Brooklyn Capital Partners, in an effort to create a source of income to cover Penn Station’s necessary upgrades, the proposed 1,200-foot-tall structure would be the world’s tallest free-fall tower ride. Cylindrical in shape, with an airy grid façade made of 17,000 tons of high-quality steel, the Halo plans to feature 11 parallel tower rides, varying in intensity, to appeal to all types of adventure-and-view-seeking riders. Tickets prices for each ride are proposed at $35.
In addition to being a soaring ride with incredible views, the structure (at almost three times the height of the London Eye) would serve as an information source for midtown, displaying an array of city-relevant data—from local weather to sports scores. At night, the superstructure would glow with a tumble of five Hula Hoop–like rings, situated within its 460-foot diameter. The project’s structural engineering is by Arup , the firm behind New York’s Second Avenue Subway project and Beijing’s National Aquatics Center (a.k.a. the Water Cube) built for the 2008 Olympics.
The proposed structure is almost three times as tall as the London Eye, and would serve as a similar ride-with-a-view for New York City.
Early this year, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to renovate the 1960s railroad station, as well as the neighboring James A. Farley Post Office Building. The project, expected to cost more than $3 billion, is planned as an uncommon public-private partnership. Government funds will provide $325 million, and the chosen developer will cover the rest, in return gaining control of all retail space within Penn Station—and if Brooklyn Capital Partners is chosen, the thrilling airspace above.
