The Story of New York's Staircase

This guide explores New York City's exciting new public space from top to bottom, inside and out, and from beginning to completion.

A public space like no other, the staircase was designed by the award-winning Heatherwick Studio to give New Yorkers and visitors a unique vertical experience. In this book, readers can witness every part of its development, from initial designs to the finished structure. They'll learn why and how the staircase came to be and the significance of its placement in the Nelson Byrd Woltz-designed Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards. An essay by architecture critic Paul Goldberger explores the importance of public spaces, while additional texts explain the evolution of the neighbourhood and discuss the staircase's dramatic design. A wealth of photography follows the structure's incredible path to completion and the final result, with a total of 2,500 steps, 154 interconnected staircases, 80 viewing landings, and one mile of pathways reaching 150 feet into the air. Documenting one of the most complex pieces of architectural steelwork ever built at this scale, this book offers a fascinating, detailed, and unforgettable look at a dazzling new structure.

PAUL GOLDBERGER is an architecture critic, educator, and Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair. He is based in New York City.

JEFF CHU writes on design, global affairs, and social issues for outlets including Time, Travel+Leisure, The New York Times Magazine, and Fast Company. He is based in Princeton, New Jersey.

SARAH MEDFORD is a journalist specializing in design and visual culture and a contributing editor at WSJ. Magazine. She is also author of the book At Home with Town & Country.